1
|
Chau WK, Lee TKW. Covalent conjugation of AZD8055 with unsaturated fatty acids for the development of mTOR nanoblockers: increasing the therapeutic efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. EBioMedicine 2024; 103:105113. [PMID: 38583261 PMCID: PMC11002569 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wing Ki Chau
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Khan SA, Chan KYK, Lee TKW. Global trajectory and future prospects of metronomic chemotherapy research: A scientometric analysis (2000-2022). Cancer Lett 2023; 576:216401. [PMID: 37774827 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216401] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
This scientometric study aimed to provide a first comprehensive overview of the global research landscape of Metronomic Chemotherapy (MC) from 2000 to 2022 using a data-driven approach to identify key trends, collaborations, and potential opportunities. This study highlights the increasing prevalence of MC, with annual outputs increasing substantially over the same timeframe. The United States contributed the most to MC research, followed by Italy and China, while there was a lack of collaborative research efforts between countries and organizations. Through keyword co-occurrence analysis, we identified emerging interdisciplinary research areas, such as "nanoparticles," "immunotherapy," and "antitumor immunity." Our citation analysis identified the most influential authors, institutions, and journals, providing a comprehensive overview of the structure of knowledge and dissemination of MC research. Although the number of publications has decreased since 2019, the analysis indicates that this field has received substantial scholarly attention. These discoveries are extremely important for researchers, funding organizations, and policymakers because they highlight the need for more collaboration, interdisciplinary approaches, and resource allocation in underrepresented fields. This study concludes with recommendations for guiding future research and collaboration, resulting in a larger impact and fostering substantial advancements in MC research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Ahmad Khan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| | - Kelvin Yuen Kwong Chan
- Department of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong.
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Leung CON, Yang Y, Leung RWH, So KKH, Guo HJ, Lei MML, Muliawan GK, Gao Y, Yu QQ, Yun JP, Ma S, Zhao Q, Lee TKW. Broad-spectrum kinome profiling identifies CDK6 upregulation as a driver of lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6699. [PMID: 37872167 PMCID: PMC10593849 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42360-w] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that drug resistance can be acquired in cancer cells by kinase rewiring, which is an obstacle for efficient cancer therapy. However, it is technically challenging to measure the expression of protein kinases on large scale due to their dynamic range in human proteome. We employ a lysine-targeted sulfonyl fluoride probe, named XO44, which binds to 133 endogenous kinases in intact lenvatinib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This analysis reveals cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) upregulation, which is mediated by ERK/YAP1 signaling cascade. Functional analyses show that CDK6 is crucial in regulation of acquired lenvatinib resistance in HCC via augmentation of liver cancer stem cells with clinical significance. We identify a noncanonical pathway of CDK6 in which it binds and regulates the activity of GSK3β, leading to activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Consistently, CDK6 inhibition by palbociclib or degradation by proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) is highly synergistic with lenvatinib in vitro. Interestingly, palbociclib not only exerts maximal growth suppressive effect with lenvatinib in lenvatinib-resistant HCC models but also reshapes the tumor immune microenvironment. Together, we unveil CDK6 as a druggable target in lenvatinib-resistant HCC and highlight the use of a chemical biology approach to understand nongenetic resistance mechanisms in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karl Kam Hei So
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hai Jun Guo
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gregory Kenneth Muliawan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, China
| | - Qian Qian Yu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
- Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
- Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cybulski JD, Leung KS, Leung CON, Baker DM, Lee TKW. Protocol to track the biosynthesis of cholesterol in cultured HCC cells using 13C compound-specific stable isotopic tracers. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102506. [PMID: 37594893 PMCID: PMC10462878 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102506] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol biosynthesis supports proliferation and drives resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we present a protocol for using stable isotopic tracers to track the biosynthesis of cholesterol in cultured HCC cells. We describe steps for cell preparation, incubation, separation, and homogenization. We then detail lipid extraction and compound-specific isotope analysis for comparing and quantifying cholesterol synthesis between TKI-resistant HCC cells and their mock counterparts. This protocol can be expanded for use with other shorter-chained lipids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Cybulski
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama.
| | - Kit Sum Leung
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - David M Baker
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama.
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang X, Shan G, Li N, Chen J, Ji C, Li X, Jiang L, Lee TKW, Keng VW, Zhao Y. An autophagy-inducing stapled peptide induces mitochondria dysfunction and triggers autotic cell death in triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:303. [PMID: 37598181 PMCID: PMC10439894 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01600-0] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent bulk degradation process essential for cell viability but excessive autophagy leads to a unique form of cell death termed autosis. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer with notable defect in its autophagy process. In previous studies, we developed stapled peptides that specifically targeted the essential autophagy protein Beclin 1 to induce autophagy and promote endolysosomal trafficking. Here we show that one lead peptide Tat-SP4 induced mild increase of autophagy in TNBC cells but showed potent anti-proliferative effect that could not be rescued by inhibitors of programmed cell death pathways. The cell death induced by Tat-SP4 showed typical features of autosis including sustained adherence to the substrate surface, rupture of plasma membrane and effective rescue by digoxin, a cardioglycoside that blocks the Na+/K+ ATPase. Tat-SP4 also induced prominent mitochondria dysfunction including loss of mitochondria membrane potential, elevated mitochondria reactive oxygen species and reduced oxidative phosphorylation. The anti-proliferative effect of Tat-SP4 was confirmed in a TNBC xenograft model. Our study uncovers three notable aspects of autosis. Firstly, autosis can be triggered by moderate increase in autophagy if such increase exceeds the endogenous capacity of the host cells. Secondly, mitochondria may play an essential role in autosis with dysregulated autophagy leading to mitochondria dysfunction to trigger autosis. Lastly, intrinsic autophagy deficiency and quiescent mitochondria bioenergetic profile likely render TNBC cells particularly susceptible to autosis. Our designed peptides like Tat-SP4 may serve as potential therapeutic candidates against TNBC by targeting this vulnerability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Zhang
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Gao Shan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Na Li
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, 518057, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Changyang Ji
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell & Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, 518057, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Liwen Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell & Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Vincent W Keng
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yanxiang Zhao
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China.
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, 518057, Shenzhen, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xu Y, Yao Y, Yu L, Zhang X, Mao X, Tey SK, Wong SWK, Yeung CLS, Ng TH, Wong MYM, Che C, Lee TKW, Gao Y, Cui Y, Yam JWP. Clathrin light chain A-enriched small extracellular vesicles remodel microvascular niche to induce hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. J Extracell Vesicles 2023; 12:e12359. [PMID: 37606345 PMCID: PMC10443339 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12359] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play a key role in exchanging cargoes between cells in tumour microenvironment. This study aimed to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) derived sEV-clathrin light chain A (CLTA) in remodelling microvascular niche. CLTA level in the circulating sEVs of HCC patients was analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The functions of sEV-CLTA in affecting HCC cancerous properties were examined by multiple functional assays. Mass spectrometry was used to identify downstream effectors of sEV-CLTA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Tube formation, sprouting, trans-endothelial invasion and vascular leakiness assays were performed to determine the functions of sEV-CLTA and its effector, basigin (BSG) in HUVECs. BSG inhibitor, SP-8356, was tested in a mouse model of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Circulating sEVs of HCC patients had markedly enhanced CLTA levels than control individuals and were reduced in patients after surgery. HCC derived sEV-CLTA enhanced HCC cancerous properties, disrupted endothelial integrity and induced angiogenesis. Mechanistically, CLTA remodels microvascular niche by stabilizing and upregulating BSG. Last, SP-8356 alone or in combination with sorafenib attenuated PDXs growth. The study reveals the role of HCC derived sEV-CLTA in microvascular niche formation. Inhibition of CLTA and its mediated pathway may illuminate a new therapeutic strategy for HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgerySecond Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangP. R. China
| | - Yue Yao
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismSecond Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangP. R. China
| | - Liang Yu
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgerySecond Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangP. R. China
| | - Xiaoxin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of MedicineJiangsu UniversityZhenjiangJiangsuP. R. China
| | - Xiaowen Mao
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong)Hong Kong
| | - Sze Keong Tey
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Samuel Wan Ki Wong
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Cherlie Lot Sum Yeung
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Tung Him Ng
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Melody YM Wong
- Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology LimitedHong Kong
| | - Chi‐Ming Che
- Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology LimitedHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, and Department of ChemistryThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical TechnologyThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong
| | - Yi Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery IIZhuJiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongP. R. China
| | - Yunfu Cui
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgerySecond Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangP. R. China
| | - Judy Wai Ping Yam
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong)Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khan SA, Lee TKW. Identifying potential pharmacological targets and molecular pathways of Meliae cortex for COVID-19 therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1128164. [PMID: 36817449 PMCID: PMC9932519 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1128164] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has contributed to a significant increase in mortality. Proinflammatory cytokine-mediated cytokine release syndrome (CRS) contributes significantly to COVID-19. Meliae cortex has been reported for its several ethnomedical applications in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In combination with other traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), the Meliae cortex suppresses coronavirus. Due to its phytoconstituents and anti-inflammatory capabilities, we postulated that the Meliae cortex could be a potential therapeutic for treating COVID-19. The active phytonutrients, molecular targets, and pathways of the Meliae cortex have not been explored yet for COVID-19 therapy. We performed network pharmacology analysis to determine the active phytoconstituents, molecular targets, and pathways of the Meliae cortex for COVID-19 treatment. 15 active phytonutrients of the Meliae cortex and 451 their potential gene targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction website tool, respectively. 1745 COVID-19-related gene targets were recovered from the GeneCards. 104 intersection gene targets were determined by performing VENNY analysis. Using the DAVID tool, gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the intersection gene targets. Using the Cytoscape software, the PPI and MCODE analyses were carried out on the intersection gene targets, which resulted in 41 potential anti-COVID-19 core targets. Molecular docking was performed with AutoDock Vina. The 10 anti-COVID-19 core targets (AKT1, TNF, HSP90AA1, IL-6, mTOR, EGFR, CASP3, HIF1A, MAPK3, and MAPK1), three molecular pathways (the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, and the pathways in cancer) and three active phytonutrients (4,8-dimethoxy-1-vinyl-beta-carboline, Trichilinin D, and Nimbolin B) were identified as molecular targets, molecular pathways, and key active phytonutrients of the Meliae cortex, respectively that significantly contribute to alleviating COVID-19. Molecular docking analysis further corroborated that three Meliae cortex's key active phytonutrients may ameliorate COVID-19 disease by modulating identified targets. Hence, this research offers a solid theoretic foundation for the future development of anti-COVID-19 therapeutics based on the phytonutrients of the Meliae cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Ahmad Khan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,*Correspondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan, ; Terence Kin Wah Lee,
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Research Center for Chinese Medicine Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,*Correspondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan, ; Terence Kin Wah Lee,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ying F, Chan MSM, Lee TKW. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:985-999. [PMID: 36708970 PMCID: PMC10040968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) includes hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and is the sixth most common cancer worldwide with poor prognosis. PLC is characterized by an abundant stromal reaction in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major stromal components. Solid evidence has demonstrated the crucial role of CAFs in tumor progression, and CAF abundance is often correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Although CAFs are regarded as an attractive and promising target for PLC treatment, a poor understanding of CAF origins and heterogeneity and a lack of specific CAF markers are the major hurdles to efficient CAF-specific therapy. In this review, we examine recent advances in the understanding of CAF diversity in the context of biomarkers, subtypes, and functions in PLC. The regulatory roles of CAFs in extracellular matrix remodeling, metastasis, cancer stemness, and therapeutic resistance are summarized. With an increasing link between CAF abundance and reduced antitumor immune responses, we provide updated knowledge on the crosstalk between CAFs and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, which leads to immune resistance. In addition, we present current CAF-targeted therapies and describe some future perspectives. A better understanding of CAF biology will shed light on a novel therapeutic strategy against PLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Ying
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Mandy Sze Man Chan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Leung RWH, Lee TKW. Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Stemness and Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215468. [PMID: 36358885 PMCID: PMC9656505 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been reported to play crucial role in pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we focus on the regulatory role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are two emerging hallmarks of cancer. Understanding the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regulation of the above processes reveals novel therapeutic strategy against this deadly disease. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death worldwide due to its high rates of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been shown to play a significant role in HCC development, progression and clinical impact on tumor behavior. Accumulating evidence has revealed the critical involvement of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in driving cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are regarded as emerging cancer hallmarks. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its role in HCC. Furthermore, we provide an update on the regulatory roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness and drug resistance in HCC. We also provide an update on preclinical and clinical studies targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling alone or in combination with current therapies for effective cancer therapy. This review provides insights into the current opportunities and challenges of targeting this signaling pathway in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3400-8799; Fax: +852-2364-9932
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lei MML, Leung CON, Lau EYT, Leung RWH, Ma VWS, Tong M, Lu YY, Huang CY, Zhu QH, Ng IOL, Ma S, Lee TKW. SCYL3, as a novel binding partner and regulator of ROCK2, promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression. JHEP Rep 2022; 5:100604. [PMCID: PMC9691429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims SCY1-like pseudokinase 3 (SCYL3) was identified as a binding partner of ezrin, implicating it in metastasis. However, the clinical relevance and functional role of SCYL3 in cancer remain uncharacterized. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of SCYL3 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The clinical significance of SCYL3 in HCC was evaluated in publicly available datasets and by qPCR analysis of an in-house HCC cohort. The functional significance and mechanistic consequences of SCYL3 were examined in SCYL3-knockdown/overexpressing HCC cells. In vivo tumor progression was evaluated in Tp53KO/c-MycOE mice using the sleeping beauty transposon system. Potential downstream pathways were investigated by co-immunoprecipitation, western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Results SCYL3 is often overexpressed in HCC; it is preferentially expressed in metastatic human HCC tumors and is associated with worse patient survival. Suppression of SCYL3 in HCC cells attenuated cell proliferation and migration as well as in vivo metastasis. Intriguingly, endogenous SCYL3 overexpression increased tumor development and metastasis in Tp53KO/c-MycOE mice. Mechanistic investigations revealed that SCYL3 physically binds and regulates the stability and transactivating activity of ROCK2 (Rho kinase 2) via its C-terminal domain, leading to the increased formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions. Conclusions These findings reveal that SCYL3 plays a critical role in promoting the progression of HCC and have implications for developing new therapeutic strategies to tackle metastatic HCC. Impact and implications SCYL3 was first reported to be a binding partner of a metastasis-related gene, ezrin. To date, the clinical relevance and functional role of SCYL3 in cancer remain uncharacterized. Herein, we uncover its crucial role in liver cancer progression. We show that it physically binds and regulates the stability and transactivating activity of ROCK2 leading to HCC tumor progression. Our data provide mechanistic insight that SCYL3-mediated ROCK2 protein stability plays a pivotal role in growth and metastasis of HCC cells. Targeting SCYL3/ROCK2 signaling cascade may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of HCC patients. SCYL3 was found to be overexpressed in HCC and was associated with metastasis and poor survival in human tumors. SCYL3 is critically involved in the regulation of HCC progression and metastasis. We identified ROCK2 as the binding partner of SCYL3. SCYL3 physically binds and regulates the stability and transactivating activity of ROCK2 via its C-terminal domain.
Collapse
Key Words
- scyl3
- rock2
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- protein stability
- metastasis
- chx, cycloheximide
- ev, empty vector
- geo, gene expression omnibus
- hcc, hepatocellular carcinoma
- hrd motif, histidine-arginine-aspartic acid motif
- htvi, hydrodynamic tail vein injection
- mlc2, myosin light chain 2
- ntc, non-target control
- oe, overexpression
- qpcr, quantitative pcr
- rock2, rho kinase 2
- sb, sleeping beauty
- scyl3, scy1-like pseudokinase 3
- scyl3-δc, scyl3 mutant with deletion of the c-terminal domain
- scyl3 oe, scyl3-overexpressing
- sg, single-guide
- sh, short-hairpin
- tcga, the cancer genome atlas
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | | | - Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Victor Wan San Ma
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Man Tong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yin Ying Lu
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Yang Huang
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qiao Hua Zhu
- Department of Interventional Radiology and Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shunde, China
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong,Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong,Corresponding author. Address: Room 805, Block Y, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Lee Shau Kee Building, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Tel.: (852) 3400-8799, fax: (852) 2364-9932.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gu CY, Lee TKW. CircTUBD1: A Novel Circular RNA Molecule as a Therapeutic Target in Radiation-induced Liver Fibrosis. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2022; 10:571-573. [PMID: 36062275 PMCID: PMC9396334 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2022.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Yujia Gu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence to: Terence KW Lee, Room 805, Block Y, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Lee Shau Kee Building, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0682-322X. Tel: +852-3400-8799, Fax: +852-2364-9932, E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Khan SA, Lee TKW. Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based investigations of Kochiae Fructus’s active phytomolecules, molecular targets, and pathways in treating COVID-19. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:972576. [PMID: 35992697 PMCID: PMC9389148 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.972576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2. Hyper-inflammation mediated by proinflammatory cytokines is humans’ primary etiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Kochiae Fructus is widely used in China as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat inflammatory diseases. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, we hypothesized that Kochiae Fructus would be a promising therapeutic agent for COVID-19. The active phytomolecules, targets, and molecular pathways of Kochiae Fructus in treating COVID-19 have not been explored yet. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to determine the active phytomolecules, molecular targets, and pathways of Kochiae Fructus. The phytomolecules in Kochiae Fructus were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and their potential targets were predicted with the SwissTargetPrediction webserver. COVID-19-related targets were recovered from the GeneCards database. Intersecting targets were determined with the VENNY tool. The Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) network analyses were constructed using the Cytoscape software. Using the DAVID tool, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting targets. AutoDock Vina (version 1.2.0.) was used for molecular docking analysis. Six active phytomolecules and 165 their potential targets, 1,745 COVID-19-related targets, and 34 intersecting targets were identified. Network analysis determined 13 anti-COVID-19 core targets and three key active phytomolecules (Oleanolic acid, 9E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid, and 11,14-eicosadienoic acid). Three key pathways (pathways in cancer, the TNF signaling pathway, and lipid and atherosclerosis) and the top six anti-COVID-19 core targets (IL-6, PPARG, MAPK3, PTGS2, ICAM1, and MAPK1) were determined to be involved in the treatment of COVID-19 with active phytomolecules of Kochiae Fructus. Molecular docking analysis revealed that three key active phytomolecules of Kochiae Fructus had a regulatory effect on the identified anti-COVID-19 core targets. Hence, these findings offer a foundation for developing anti-COVID-19 drugs based on phytomolecules of Kochiae Fructus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Ahmad Khan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan,
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Terence Kin Wah Lee,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Khan SA, Lee TKW. Investigations of nitazoxanide molecular targets and pathways for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:968148. [PMID: 35959427 PMCID: PMC9358010 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.968148] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitazoxanide has been investigated for colorectal cancer and breast cancer. However, its molecular targets and pathways have not yet been explored for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. Utilizing a network pharmacology approach, nitazoxanide’s potential targets and molecular pathways for HCC treatment were investigated. HCC targets were extracted from the GeneCards database. Potential targets of nitazoxanide were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction and Super Pred. Intersecting targets were analyzed with VENNY online tool. Using Cytoscape, a protein-protein interaction (PPI), cluster, and core targets-pathways networks were constructed. Using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. The nitazoxanide was molecularly docked with anti-HCC core targets by employing Auto Dock Vina. A total of 168 potential targets of nitazoxanide, 13,415 HCC-related targets, and 153 intersecting targets were identified. The top eight anti-HCC core targets were identified: SRC, EGFR, CASP3, MMP9, mTOR, HIF1A, ERBB2, and PPARG. GO enrichment analysis showed that nitazoxanide might have anti-HCC effects by affecting gene targets involved in multiple biological processes (BP) (protein phosphorylation, transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RTKs) signaling pathway, positive regulation of MAP kinase activity, etc.). KEGG pathways and core targets-pathways network analysis indicated that pathways in cancer and proteoglycans in cancer are two key pathways that significantly contribute to the anti-HCC effects of nitazoxanide. Results of molecular docking demonstrated the potential for active interaction between the top eight anti-HCC core targets and nitazoxanide. Our research offers a theoretical basis for the notion that nitazoxanide may have distinct therapeutic effects in HCC, and the identified pharmacological targets and pathways might function as biomarkers for HCC therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Ahmad Khan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan, ; Terence Kin Wah Lee,
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Shakeel Ahmad Khan, ; Terence Kin Wah Lee,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mok EHK, Leung CON, Zhou L, Lei MML, Leung HW, Tong M, Wong TL, Lau EYT, Ng IOL, Ding J, Yun JP, Yu J, Zhu HL, Lin CH, Lindholm D, Leung KS, Cybulski JD, Baker DM, Ma S, Lee TKW. Caspase-3-induced activation of SREBP2 drives drug resistance via promotion of cholesterol biosynthesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3102-3115. [PMID: 35767704 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-2934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that drug resistance can be acquired in cancer through the repopulation of tumors by cancer stem cell (CSC) expansion. Here, we investigated mechanisms driving resistance and CSC repopulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a cancer model using two drug-resistant, patient-derived tumor xenografts that mimicked the development of acquired resistance to sorafenib or lenvatinib treatment observed in HCC patients. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that cholesterol biosynthesis was most commonly enriched in the drug-resistant xenografts. Comparison of the genetic profiles of CD133+ stem cells and CD133- bulk cells from liver regeneration and HCC mouse models showed that the cholesterol pathway was preferentially upregulated in liver CSCs compared to normal liver stem cells. Consistently, SREBP2-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis was crucial for the augmentation of liver CSCs, and loss of SREBP2 conferred sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, suggesting a role in regulation of acquired drug resistance in HCC. Similarly, exogenous cholesterol-treated HCC cells showed enhanced cancer stemness abilities and drug resistance. Mechanistically, caspase-3 (CASP3)-mediated cleavage of SREBP2 from the endoplasmic reticulum to promote cholesterol biosynthesis, which consequently caused resistance to sorafenib/lenvatinib treatment by driving activation of the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. Simvastatin, an FDA-approved cholesterol-lowering drug, not only suppressed HCC tumor growth but also sensitized HCC cells to sorafenib. These findings demonstrate that CSC populations in HCC expand via CASP3-dependent, SREBP2-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis in response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and that targeting cholesterol biosynthesis can overcome acquired drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Ho Kit Mok
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Lei Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Hoi Wing Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Man Tong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tin Lok Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jin Ding
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hui Lian Zhu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chi Ho Lin
- Centre for PanorOmic Science, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Dan Lindholm
- Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kit Sum Leung
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jonathan D Cybulski
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - David M Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Khan SA, Lee TKW. Network-Pharmacology-Based Study on Active Phytochemicals and Molecular Mechanism of Cnidium monnieri in Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5400. [PMID: 35628212 PMCID: PMC9140548 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a high mortality rate globally. For thousands of years, Cnidium monnieri has been used to treat human ailments and is regarded as a veritable treasure trove for drug discovery. This study has investigated the key active phytochemicals and molecular mechanisms of Cnidium monnieri implicated in curing HCC. We utilized the TCMSP database to collect data on the phytochemicals of Cnidium monnieri. The SwissTargetPrediction website tool was used to predict the targets of phytochemicals of Cnidium monnieri. HCC-related genes were retrieved from OncoDB.HCC and Liverome, two liver-cancer-related databases. Using the DAVID bioinformatic website tool, Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting targets of HCC-related genes and active phytochemicals in Cnidium monnieri. A network of active phytochemicals and anti-HCC targets was constructed and analyzed using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking of key active phytochemicals was performed with anti-HCC targets using AutoDock Vina (version 1.2.0.). We identified 19 active phytochemicals in Cnidium monnieri, 532 potential targets of these phytochemicals, and 566 HCC-related genes. Results of GO enrichment indicated that Cnidium monnieri might be implicated in affecting gene targets involved in multiple biological processes, such as protein phosphorylation, negative regulation of the apoptotic process, which could be attributed to its anti-HCC effects. KEGG pathway analyses indicated that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, proteoglycans in cancer, the TNF signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance are the main pathways implicated in the anti-HCC effects of Cnidium monnieri. Molecular docking analyses showed that key active phytochemicals of Cnidium monnieri, such as ar-curcumene, diosmetin, and (E)-2,3-bis(2-keto-7-methoxy-chromen-8-yl)acrolein, can bind to core therapeutic targets EGFR, CASP3, ESR1, MAPK3, CCND1, and ERBB2. The results of the present study offer clues for further investigation of the anti-HCC phytochemicals and mechanisms of Cnidium monnieri and provide a basis for developing modern anti-HCC drugs based on phytochemicals in Cnidium monnieri.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Ahmad Khan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd., Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd., Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Tey SK, Wong SWK, Chan JYT, Mao X, Ng TH, Yeung CLS, Leung Z, Fung HL, Tang AHN, Wong DKH, Mak LY, Yuen MF, Sin CF, Ng IOL, Ma SKY, Lee TKW, Cao P, Zhong K, Gao Y, Yun JP, Yam JWP. Patient pIgR-enriched extracellular vesicles drive cancer stemness, tumorigenesis and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2022; 76:883-895. [PMID: 34922977 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in connecting tumor cells with their local and distant microenvironments. Herein, we aimed to understand the role (on a molecular basis) patient-derived EVs play in modulating cancer stemness and tumorigenesis in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS EVs from patient sera were isolated, quantified and characterized. The EVs were vigorously tested, both in vitro and in vivo, through various functional assays. Proteomic analysis was performed to identify the functional components of EVs. The presence and level of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in circulating EVs and tumor and non-tumorous tissues of patients with HCC were determined by ELISA, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. The functional role and underlying mechanism of EVs with enhanced pIgR expression were elucidated. Blockade of EV-pIgR with neutralizing antibody was performed in nude mice implanted with patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDTXs). RESULTS Circulating EVs from patients with late-stage HCC (L-HCC) had significantly elevated pIgR expression compared to the EVs released by control individuals. The augmenting effect of L-HCC-EVs on cancer stemness and tumorigenesis was hindered by an anti-pIgR antibody. EVs enriched with pIgR consistently promoted cancer stemness and cancerous phenotypes in recipient cells. Mechanistically, EV-pIgR-induced cancer aggressiveness was abrogated by Akt and β-catenin inhibitors, confirming that the role of EV-pIgR depends on the activation of the PDK1/Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling axis. Furthermore, an anti-pIgR neutralizing antibody attenuated tumor growth in mice implanted with PDTXs. CONCLUSIONS This study illustrates a previously unknown role of EV-pIgR in regulating cancer stemness and aggressiveness: EV-pIgR activates PDK1/Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling cascades. The blockade of the intercellular communication mediated by EV-pIgR in the tumor microenvironment may provide a new therapeutic strategy for patients with cancer. LAY SUMMARY The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1 million patients will die from liver cancer, mostly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in 2030. Understanding the underlying mechanism by which HCC acquires aggressive attributes is crucial to improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Herein, we demonstrated that nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles released by tumors promote cancer stemness and tumorigenesis. Within these oncogenic vesicles, we identified a key component that functions as a potent modulator of cancer aggressiveness. By inhibiting this functional component of EVs using a neutralizing antibody, tumor growth was profoundly attenuated in mice. This hints at a potentially effective therapeutic alternative for patients with cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sze Keong Tey
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Samuel Wan Ki Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Janice Yuen Tung Chan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xiaowen Mao
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tung Him Ng
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Cherlie Lot Sum Yeung
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zoe Leung
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hui Ling Fung
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Alexander Hin Ning Tang
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Danny Ka Ho Wong
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong
| | - Lung-Yi Mak
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong
| | - Man-Fung Yuen
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Fung Sin
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Kwai Yee Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong; School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Peihua Cao
- Clinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Kebo Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yi Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jing Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Judy Wai Ping Yam
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (The University of Hong Kong), Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Shen J, Yang C, Zhang MS, Chin DWC, Chan FF, Law CT, Wang G, Cheng CLH, Chen M, Wan RTC, Wu M, Kuang Z, Sharma R, Lee TKW, Ng IOL, Wong CCL, Wong CM. Histone chaperone FACT complex coordinates with HIF to mediate an expeditious transcription program to adapt to poorly oxygenated cancers. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110304. [PMID: 35108543 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells adapt to hypoxia through HIFs (hypoxia-inducible factors), which initiate the transcription of numerous genes for cancer cell survival in the hypoxia microenvironment. In this study, we find that the FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) complex works cooperatively with HIFs to facilitate the expeditious expression of HIF targets for hypoxia adaptation. Knockout (KO) of the FACT complex abolishes HIF-mediated transcription by impeding transcription elongation in hypoxic cancer cells. Interestingly, the FACT complex is post-translationally regulated by PHD/VHL-mediated hydroxylation and proteasomal degradation, in similar fashion to HIF-1/2α. Metabolic tracing confirms that FACT KO suppresses glycolytic flux and impairs lactate extrusion, leading to intracellular acidification and apoptosis in cancer cells. Therapeutically, hepatic artery ligation and anti-angiogenic inhibitors adversely induce intratumoral hypoxia, while co-treatment with FACT inhibitor curaxin remarkably hinders the growth of hypoxic tumors. In summary, our findings suggest that the FACT complex is a critical component of hypoxia adaptation and a therapeutic target for hypoxic tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Chunxue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Don Wai-Ching Chin
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - For-Fan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheuk-Ting Law
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Gengchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Carol Lai-Hung Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Mengnuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Rebecca Ting-Chi Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Mengjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhijian Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Rakesh Sharma
- Proteomic and Metabolic Core Facility, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Chak-Lui Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research and Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gu CY, Lee TKW. Preclinical mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma: An overview and update. Exp Cell Res 2022; 412:113042. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
19
|
Leung RWH, Ho NPY, Leung CON, Lee TKW. UBE2T: A new molecular regulator of cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1727-1728. [PMID: 34434501 PMCID: PMC8378764 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
|
20
|
Chung KPS, Leung RWH, Lee TKW. Hampering Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Strategy to Destem Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3191. [PMID: 34202411 PMCID: PMC8268361 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor bulk play crucial roles in tumor initiation, recurrence and therapeutic resistance. In addition to intrinsic regulation, a growing body of evidence suggests that the phenotypes of CSCs are also regulated extrinsically by stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the interplay between stromal cells and cancer cells with a special focus on how stromal cells drive the stemness of cancer cells and immune evasive mechanisms of CSCs. Knowledge gained from the interaction between CSCs and stromal cells will provide a mechanistic basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Po Sin Chung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
| | - Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (K.P.S.C.); (R.W.H.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are subpopulations of undifferentiated cancer cells within the tumor bulk that are responsible for tumor initiation, recurrence and therapeutic resistance. The enhanced ability of CSCs to give rise to new tumors suggests potential roles of these cells in the evasion of immune surveillance. A growing body of evidence has described the interplay between CSCs and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent data have shown the pivotal role of some major immune cells in driving the expansion of CSCs, which concurrently elicit evasion of the detection and destruction of various immune cells through a number of distinct mechanisms. Here, we will discuss the role of immune cells in driving the stemness of cancer cells and provide evidence of how CSCs evade immune surveillance by exerting their effects on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), dendritic cells (DCs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), T-regulatory (Treg) cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The knowledge gained from the interaction between CSCs and various immune cells will provide insight into the mechanisms by which tumors evade immune surveillance. In conclusion, CSC-targeted immunotherapy emerges as a novel immunotherapy strategy against cancer by disrupting the interaction between immune cells and CSCs in the TME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Lei MML, Lee TKW. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Orchestrating the Crosstalk Between Liver Cancer Cells and Neutrophils Through the Cardiotrophin-Like Cytokine Factor 1-Mediated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) Ligand 6/TGF-β Axis. Hepatology 2021; 73:1631-1633. [PMID: 33639004 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ho NPY, Leung CON, Wong TL, Lau EYT, Lei MML, Mok EHK, Leung HW, Tong M, Ng IOL, Yun JP, Ma S, Lee TKW. The interplay of UBE2T and Mule in regulating Wnt/β-catenin activation to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:148. [PMID: 33542213 PMCID: PMC7862307 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumor relapse and therapeutic resistance in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To identify novel targets against liver CSCs, an integrative analysis of publicly available datasets involving HCC clinical and stemness-related data was employed to select genes that play crucial roles in HCC via regulation of liver CSCs. We revealed an enrichment of an interstrand cross-link repair pathway, in which ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) was the most significantly upregulated. Consistently, our data showed that UBE2T was upregulated in enriched liver CSC populations. Clinically, UBE2T overexpression in HCC was further confirmed at mRNA and protein levels and was correlated with advanced tumor stage and poor patient survival. UBE2T was found to be critically involved in the regulation of liver CSCs, as evidenced by increases in self-renewal, drug resistance, tumorigenicity, and metastasis abilities. Mule, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, was identified to be the direct protein binding partner of UBE2T. Rather than the canonical role of acting as a mediator to transfer ubiquitin to E3 ligases, UBE2T is surprisingly able to physically bind and regulate the protein expression of Mule via ubiquitination. Mule was found to directly degrade β-catenin protein, and UBE2T was found to mediate liver CSC functions through direct regulation of Mule-mediated β-catenin degradation; this effect was abolished when the E2 activity of UBE2T was impaired. In conclusion, we revealed a novel UBE2T/Mule/β-catenin signaling cascade that is involved in the regulation of liver CSCs, which provides an attractive potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Pui Yu Ho
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tin Lok Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Etienne Ho Kit Mok
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hoi Wing Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Man Tong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jing Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. .,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Mao X, Tey SK, Yeung CLS, Kwong EML, Fung YME, Chung CYS, Mak L, Wong DKH, Yuen M, Ho JCM, Pang H, Wong MP, Leung CO, Lee TKW, Ma V, Cho WC, Cao P, Xu X, Gao Y, Yam JWP. Nidogen 1-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles Facilitate Extrahepatic Metastasis of Liver Cancer by Activating Pulmonary Fibroblasts to Secrete Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2020; 7:2002157. [PMID: 33173740 PMCID: PMC7640351 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202002157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastasis, the lung is the most frequent site of metastasis. However, how the lung microenvironment favors disseminated cells remains unclear. Here, it is found that nidogen 1 (NID1) in metastatic HCC cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) promotes pre-metastatic niche formation in the lung by enhancing angiogenesis and pulmonary endothelial permeability to facilitate colonization of tumor cells and extrahepatic metastasis. EV-NID1 also activates fibroblasts, which secrete tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), facilitate lung colonization of tumor cells, and augment HCC cell growth and motility. Administration of anti-TNFR1 antibody effectively diminishes lung metastasis induced by the metastatic HCC cell-derived EVs in mice. In the clinical perspective, analysis of serum EV-NID1 and TNFR1 in HCC patients reveals their positive correlation and association with tumor stages suggesting the potential of these molecules as noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of HCC. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the interplay of HCC EVs and activated fibroblasts in pre-metastatic niche formation and how blockage of their functions inhibits distant metastasis to the lungs. This study offers promise for the new direction of HCC treatment by targeting oncogenic EV components and their mediated pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Mao
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Sze Keong Tey
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Cherlie Lot Sum Yeung
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Ernest Man Lok Kwong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Yi Man Eva Fung
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic ChemistryThe University of Hong KongPokfulamHong Kong
| | - Clive Yik Sham Chung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Lung‐Yi Mak
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Danny Ka Ho Wong
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Man‐Fung Yuen
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - James Chung Man Ho
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Herbert Pang
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Maria Pik Wong
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| | - Carmen Oi‐Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical TechnologyThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloonHong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical TechnologyThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloonHong Kong
| | - Victor Ma
- Department of Clinical OncologyQueen Elizabeth HospitalKowloonHong Kong
| | | | - Peihua Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510280China
- Clinical Research CenterZhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510280China
| | - Xiaoping Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510280China
| | - Yi Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510280China
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center of Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Zhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510280China
| | - Judy Wai Ping Yam
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Leung CON, Tong M, Chung KPS, Zhou L, Che N, Tang KH, Ding J, Lau EYT, Ng IOL, Ma S, Lee TKW. Overriding Adaptive Resistance to Sorafenib Through Combination Therapy With Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing Phosphatase 2 Blockade in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 2020; 72:155-168. [PMID: 31610028 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The survival benefit of sorafenib for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unsatisfactory due to the development of adaptive resistance. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that drug resistance can be acquired by cancer cells by activating a number of signaling pathways through receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs); nevertheless, the detailed mechanism for the activation of these alternative pathways is not fully understood. APPROACH AND RESULTS Given the physiological role of Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) as a downstream effector of many RTKs for activation of various signaling cascades, we first found that SHP2 was markedly up-regulated in our established sorafenib-resistant cell lines as well as patient-derived xenografts. Upon sorafenib treatment, adaptive resistance was acquired in HCC cells through activation of RTKs including AXL, epidermal growth factor receptor, EPH receptor A2, and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, leading to RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and AKT reactivation. We found that the SHP2 inhibitor SHP099 abrogated sorafenib resistance in HCC cell lines and organoid culture in vitro by blocking this negative feedback mechanism. Interestingly, this sensitization effect was also mediated by induction of cellular senescence. SHP099 in combination with sorafenib was highly efficacious in the treatment of xenografts and genetically engineered models of HCC. CONCLUSIONS SHP2 blockade by SHP099 in combination with sorafenib attenuated the adaptive resistance to sorafenib by impeding RTK-induced reactivation of the MEK/ERK and AKT signaling pathways. SHP099 in combination with sorafenib may be a safe therapeutic strategy against HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Man Tong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Katherine Po Sin Chung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Lena Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Noélia Che
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kwan Ho Tang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Jin Ding
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Leung HW, Lau EYT, Leung CON, Lei MML, Mok EHK, Ma VWS, Cho WCS, Ng IOL, Yun JP, Cai SH, Yu HJ, Ma S, Lee TKW. Corrigendum to "NRF2/SHH signaling cascade promotes tumor-initiating cell lineage and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma" [Canc. Lett. 476 (2020) 48-56]. Cancer Lett 2020; 499:2. [PMID: 32563702 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Wing Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | | | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Etienne Ho Kit Mok
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Victor Wan San Ma
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | | | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jing Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center, China
| | - Shao Hang Cai
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center, China
| | - Hua Jian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ching RHH, Sze KMF, Lau EYT, Chiu YT, Lee JMF, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. C-terminal truncated hepatitis B virus X protein regulates tumourigenicity, self-renewal, and chemoresistance via STAT3/Nanog signalling pathway: abridged secondary publication. Hong Kong Med J 2020; 26 Suppl 4:22-25. [PMID: 32690814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R H H Ching
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| | - K M F Sze
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| | - E Y T Lau
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| | - Y T Chiu
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| | - J M F Lee
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| | - I O L Ng
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| | - T K W Lee
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: State Key Laboratory for Liver Research & Department of Pathology
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Mok EHK, Leung CON, Lee TKW. MAP9/ERCC3 signaling cascade: A new insight on understanding the chromosomal instability in hepatocellular carcinoma. EBioMedicine 2020; 54:102709. [PMID: 32268270 PMCID: PMC7136610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Ho Kit Mok
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Leung HW, Lau EYT, Leung CON, Lei MML, Mok EHK, Ma VWS, Cho WCS, Ng IOL, Yun JP, Cai SH, Yu HJ, Ma S, Lee TKW. NRF2/SHH signaling cascade promotes tumor-initiating cell lineage and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2020; 476:48-56. [PMID: 32061952 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Solid evidence shows that tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) are the root of tumor relapse and drug resistance, which lead to a poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Through an in vitro liver T-IC enrichment approach, we identified nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) as a transcription regulator that is significantly activated in enriched liver T-IC populations. In human HCCs, NRF2 was found to be overexpressed, which was associated with poor patient survival. Through a lentiviral based knockdown approach, NRF2 was found to be critical for regulating liver T-IC properties, including self-renewal, tumorigenicity, drug resistance and expression of liver T-IC markers. Furthermore, we found that ROS-induced NRF2 activation regulates sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. Mechanistically, NRF2 was found to physically bind to the promoter of sonic hedgehog homolog (SHH), which triggers activation of the sonic hedgehog pathway. The effect of NRF2 knockdown was eliminated upon administration of recombinant SHH, demonstrating that NRF2 mediated T-IC function via upregulation of SHH expression. Our study suggests a novel regulatory mechanism for the canonical sonic hedgehog pathway that may function through the NRF2/SHH/GLI signaling axis, thus mediating T-IC phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Wing Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | | | - Carmen Oi Ning Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Martina Mang Leng Lei
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Etienne Ho Kit Mok
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Victor Wan San Ma
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | | | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jing Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shao Hang Cai
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Jian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Leung HW, Lee TKW. Abstract 1996: Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 promotes tumor-initiating cell lineage and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-1996] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. The long-term prognosis of HCC remains unsatisfactory due to high recurrence rates and chemoresistance. The efficacy of sorafenib, the only FDA-approved molecularly targeted drug in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited by acquired resistance. Increasing evidences showed that liver tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) is the source of acquired resistance and metastasis. We have previously established sorafenib-resistant HCC cells both in vitro and PDTX models and demonstrated that these cells are endowed with enhanced T-IC properties. Interestingly, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) expression was elevated in these resistant cells. The transcription factor NRF2 has long been considered as a tumour suppressor, as it can regulate cellular antioxidant response to protect cells from oxidative stress, chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy. In HCC, NRF2 level was up-regulated, and its expression was correlated with tumor differentiation, metastasis, and tumor size, revealing its oncogenic role. By lentiviral based knockdown approach, we found that NRF2 repression suppressed liver T-IC properties including self-renewal, in vivo tumorigenicity, HCC invasiveness and expression of liver T-IC markers. In addition, we found that NRF2 repression not only sensitized HCC cells to sorafenib but also to other chemotherapeutic drugs including doxorubicin and fluorouracil. Mechanistically, the signaling cascade related to sonic hedgehog pathway was greatly suppressed in NRF2 knockdown HCC cells, when compared with control counterparts. Collectively, NRF2 was involved in drug resistance, invasion and migration, tumorigenicity and self-renewal via regulating T-IC properties at least in part through direct regulation of sonic hedgehog pathway in HCC. Targeting NRF2 mediated signaling cascade alone or in combination with other treatment modalities may be a new a potential therapeutic approach for treatment of HCC.
Citation Format: Hoi Wing Leung, Terence Kin Wah Lee. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 promotes tumor-initiating cell lineage and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1996.
Collapse
|
31
|
Li XF, Chen C, Xiang DM, Qu L, Sun W, Lu XY, Zhou TF, Chen SZ, Ning BF, Cheng Z, Xia MY, Shen WF, Yang W, Wen W, Lee TKW, Cong WM, Wang HY, Ding J. Chronic inflammation-elicited liver progenitor cell conversion to liver cancer stem cell with clinical significance. Hepatology 2017; 66:1934-1951. [PMID: 28714104 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The substantial heterogeneity and hierarchical organization in liver cancer support the theory of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs). However, the relationship between chronic hepatic inflammation and LCSC generation remains obscure. Here, we observed a close correlation between aggravated inflammation and liver progenitor cell (LPC) propagation in the cirrhotic liver of rats exposed to diethylnitrosamine. LPCs isolated from the rat cirrhotic liver initiated subcutaneous liver cancers in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice, suggesting the malignant transformation of LPCs toward LCSCs. Interestingly, depletion of Kupffer cells in vivo attenuated the LCSC properties of transformed LPCs and suppressed cytokeratin 19/Oval cell 6-positive tumor occurrence. Conversely, LPCs cocultured with macrophages exhibited enhanced LCSC properties. We further demonstrated that macrophage-secreted tumor necrosis factor-α triggered chromosomal instability in LPCs through the deregulation of ubiquitin D and checkpoint kinase 2 and enhanced the self-renewal of LPCs through the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1/Src/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway, which synergistically contributed to the conversion of LPCs to LCSCs. Clinical investigation revealed that cytokeratin 19/Oval cell 6-positive liver cancer patients displayed a worse prognosis and exhibited superior response to sorafenib treatment. CONCLUSION Our results not only clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammation-mediated LCSC generation but also provide a molecular classification for the individualized treatment of liver cancer. (Hepatology 2017;66:1934-1951).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Feng Li
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dai-Min Xiang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,National Center of Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Qu
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Sun
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Lu
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng-Fei Zhou
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Zhen Chen
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei-Fang Ning
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuo Cheng
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming-Yang Xia
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Feng Shen
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Yang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Wen
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Wen-Ming Cong
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Yang Wang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,National Center of Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Ding
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,National Center of Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ma MKF, Lau EYT, Leung DHW, Lo J, Ho NPY, Cheng LKW, Ma S, Lin CH, Copland JA, Ding J, Lo RCL, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase regulates sorafenib resistance via modulation of ER stress-induced differentiation. J Hepatol 2017. [PMID: 28647567 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS We investigated the functional role and clinical significance of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in regulating liver tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) and sorafenib resistance, with the aim of developing a novel therapeutic strategy against hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). METHODS We evaluated the clinic-pathological relevance of SCD1 and its correlation with sorafenib resistance in large cohorts of HCC clinical samples by qPCR and immunohistochemical analyses. Lentiviral-based overexpression and knockdown approaches were performed to characterize the functional roles of SCD1 in regulating liver T-ICs and sorafenib resistance. Molecular pathways mediating the phenotypic alterations were identified through RNA sequencing analysis and functional rescue experiments. The combinatorial effect of SCD1 inhibition and sorafenib was tested using a patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) model. RESULTS SCD1 overexpression was found in HCC, which was associated with shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.008, log rank test). SCD1 was found to regulate the populations of liver T-ICs; while its suppression by a SCD1 inhibitor suppressed liver T-ICs and sorafenib resistance. Interestingly, SCD1 was markedly upregulated in our established sorafenib-resistant PDTX model, and its overexpression predicts the clinical response of HCC patients to sorafenib treatment. Suppression of SCD1 forces liver T-ICs to differentiate via ER stress-induced unfolded protein response, resulting in an enhanced sensitivity to sorafenib. The PDTX#1 model, combined with sorafenib treatment and a novel SCD1 inhibitor (SSI-4), showed a maximal growth suppressive effect. CONCLUSIONS SCD1-mediated ER stress regulates liver T-ICs and sorafenib sensitivity. Targeting SCD1 alone or in combination with sorafenib might be a novel personalized medicine against HCC. Lay summary: In this study, SCD1 was found to play a critical role in regulating liver tumor-initiating cells and sorafenib resistance through the regulation of ER stress-mediated differentiation. Targeting SCD1 in combination with sorafenib may be a novel therapeutic strategy against liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Kin Fai Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eunice Yuen Ting Lau
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Doris Hoi Wing Leung
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Jessica Lo
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Nicole Pui Yu Ho
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Lily Kwan Wai Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Ho Lin
- Centre for Genomic Science, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - John A Copland
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, United States
| | - Jin Ding
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, China
| | - Regina Cheuk Lam Lo
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chirosciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lo J, Lau EYT, So FTY, Lu P, Chan VSF, Cheung VCH, Ching RHH, Cheng BYL, Ma MKF, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. Anti-CD47 antibody suppresses tumour growth and augments the effect of chemotherapy treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Int 2016; 36:737-45. [PMID: 26351778 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with metastasis and recurrence leading to a poor prognosis. Therefore, development of novel treatment regimens is urgently needed to improve the survival of HCC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of anti-CD47 antibody alone and in combination with chemotherapy in HCC. METHODS In this study, we examined the functional effects of anti-CD47 antibody (B6H12) on cell proliferation, sphere formation, migration and invasion, chemosensitivity, macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and tumourigenicity both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic efficacy of anti-CD47 antibody alone or in combination with doxorubicin was examined in patient-derived HCC xenograft. RESULTS Blocking CD47 with anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (B6H12) at 10 μg/ml could suppress self-renewal, tumourigenicity and migration and invasion abilities of MHCC-97L and Huh-7 cells. Interestingly, anti-CD47 antibody synergized the effect of HCC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs including doxorubicin and cisplatin. Blockade of CD47 by anti-CD47 antibody induced macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Using a patient-derived HCC xenograft mouse model, we found that anti-CD47 antibody (400 μg/mouse) in combination with doxorubicin (2 mg/kg) exerted maximal effects on tumour suppression, as compared with doxorubicin and anti-CD47 antibody alone. CONCLUSIONS Anti-CD47 antibody treatment could complement chemotherapy which may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lo
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eunice Yuen Ting Lau
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Francis Tak Yuk So
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ping Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vera Sau Fong Chan
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent Chi Ho Cheung
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rachel Hiu Ha Ching
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bowie Yik Ling Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mark Kin Fai Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lau EYT, Lo J, Cheng BYL, Ma MKF, Lee JMF, Ng JKY, Chai S, Lin CH, Tsang SY, Ma S, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Regulate Tumor-Initiating Cell Plasticity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma through c-Met/FRA1/HEY1 Signaling. Cell Rep 2016; 15:1175-89. [PMID: 27134167 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Like normal stem cells, tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) are regulated extrinsically within the tumor microenvironment. Because HCC develops primarily in the context of cirrhosis, in which there is an enrichment of activated fibroblasts, we hypothesized that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) would regulate liver T-ICs. We found that the presence of α-SMA(+) CAFs correlates with poor clinical outcome. CAF-derived HGF regulates liver T-ICs via activation of FRA1 in an Erk1,2-dependent manner. Further functional analysis identifies HEY1 as a direct downstream effector of FRA1. Using the STAM NASH-HCC mouse model, we find that HGF-induced FRA1 activation is associated with the fibrosis-dependent development of HCC. Thus, targeting the CAF-derived, HGF-mediated c-Met/FRA1/HEY1 cascade may be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Yuen Ting Lau
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Jessica Lo
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Bowie Yik Ling Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Mark Kin Fai Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Joyce Man Fong Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Johnson Kai Yu Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Stella Chai
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Chi Ho Lin
- Centre for Genomic Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Suk Ying Tsang
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Stephanie Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC; Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lau YT, Lo J, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. Abstract 2317: Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived HGF regulates cancer stem cell-like properties in hepatocellular carcinoma through c-Met/FRA1/HEY1 signaling pathway. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-2317] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Liver cancer (HCC) remains one of the most deadliest malignancies in the world. Increasing evidence showed the existence of a subset of cancer cells called tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) within the tumor bulk which are resistant to conventional treatments. Similar to normal stem cells, T-ICs are also regulated extrinsically within tumor microenvironment. Since HCC is mostly developed with cirrhotic background with the enrichment of activated fibroblasts, we hypothesized that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) would regulate liver T-ICs. For this purpose, we first isolated CAFs from fresh HCC clinical specimens, cultured and propagated them in vitro. After confirming the fibroblastic identity of CAFs, we subcutaneously injected CAFs, conditioned medium (CM) of CAFs, together with HCC tumor cells into NOD/SCID mice to assess their role in regulating tumorigenicity. Both CAFs and CM of CAFs were shown to have a similar ability in promoting the tumorigenicity of HCC cells, suggesting that CAFs regulate HCC probably by paracrine regulation. Therefore, we collected the CM of CAFs and examined its effect on the properties of liver T-ICs. We found that CM of CAFs enhanced liver T-IC properties, and HCC cells could stimulate CAFs to further aggravate its potential.
By cytokine profiling, we identified hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to be the most potent cytokine in CM of CAFs critical for promotion of T-IC properties, and this effect was further confirmed by the administration of recombinant HGF at a level comparable to that secreted by CAFs. Upon cDNA microarray analysis, we identified FRA1, to be mediator for the effect of HGF-induced T-IC properties. Further characterization showed that activation of both Erk1/2 and Akt pathways are important for HGF-mediated FRA1 activation and induction. By IHC staining, we demonstrated that overexpression of FRA1 is significantly correlated with poorer cellular differentiation, as well as poor disease-free and overall survival in HCC patients. In view of the functional significance of FRA1 in regulating liver T-ICs, and the upregulation of FRA1 by CAF-derived HGF, we next investigated whether FRA1 activation is associated with fibrosis-dependent hepatocarcinogenesis. Using STAM™ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) HCC mouse model, in which HCC is developed from liver fibrosis, we found that the activation of HGF/c-Met/FRA1 signaling pathway might be associated with the regulation of T-ICs during liver carcinogenesis. Lastly, we identified HEY1 to be the direct transcriptional target of FRA1. Rescue experiments by overexpression of HEY1 in FRA1 knockdown HCC cells, suggest that FRA1 promotes liver T-IC properties, at least in part, through HEY1 regulation. In conclusion, our study suggests the role of CAFs in regulating liver T-IC properties through the secretion of HGF, which is mediated through a novel c-Met/FRA1/HEY1 pathway.
Citation Format: Yuen Ting Lau, Jessica Lo, Irene Oi Lin Ng, Terence Kin Wah Lee. Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived HGF regulates cancer stem cell-like properties in hepatocellular carcinoma through c-Met/FRA1/HEY1 signaling pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2317. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2317
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Lo
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lo J, Lau EYT, Ching RHH, Cheng BYL, Ma MKF, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. Nuclear factor kappa B-mediated CD47 up-regulation promotes sorafenib resistance and its blockade synergizes the effect of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. Hepatology 2015; 62:534-45. [PMID: 25902734 DOI: 10.1002/hep.27859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Sorafenib is a new standard treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the survival benefit of this treatment is modest, partly owing to drug resistance. Recent evidence has demonstrated the existence of tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) as the culprit for treatment resistance. To examine whether sorafenib resistance was a result of the presence of liver T-ICs, we developed sorafenib-resistant HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo through continuous exposure to sorafenib. Using these models, we found that sorafenib-resistant clones demonstrated enhanced T-IC properties, including tumorigenicity, self-renewal, and invasiveness. In addition, several T-IC markers were found to be up-regulated, among which CD47 was found to be most significant. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and expression analyses, CD47 expression was found to be regulated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) through a specific response element in the promoter of CD47, and the site occupancy and expression were increased and decreased upon stimulation and inhibition of NF-κB, respectively. Consistently, NF-κB was activated in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, and this finding was confirmed in clinical HCC samples, which showed a positive correlation between NF-κB and CD47 expression. Functional characterization of CD47 in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells was evaluated using a lentivirus-based knockdown approach and showed increased sensitization to sorafenib upon CD47 knockdown. Furthermore, blockade of CD47 using anti-CD47 antibody (Ab) showed a similar effect. Using a patient-derived HCC xenograft mouse model, we found that anti-CD47 Ab (500 μg/mouse) in combination with sorafenib (100 mg/kg, orally) exerted synergistic effects on tumor suppression, as compared with sorafenib and anti-CD47 Ab alone. CONCLUSIONS NF-κB-mediated CD47 up-regulation promotes sorafenib resistance, and targeting CD47 in combination with sorafenib is an attractive therapeutic regimen for the treatment of HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lo
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eunice Yuen Ting Lau
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Rachel Hiu Ha Ching
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Bowie Yik Ling Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Mark Kin Fai Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Lo J, Lau EYT, Ng IOL, Lee TKW. Abstract 1911: NF-κB mediated CD47 upregulation promotes sorafenib resistance and its blockade synergizes the effect of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2014-1911] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, is currently used as the normative treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It can prolong survival for a few months however sorafenib insensitivity and resistance often develops in tumors hence a better understanding of resistance mechanisms is urgently needed. Tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) have recently been implicated in the cause of treatment resistance. Recently, our group found that CD47 is preferentially expressed in liver T-ICs, which suggests a possibility of targeting CD47 in order to evade sorafenib resistance via elimination of liver T-ICs. To test this hypothesis, we have successfully developed sorafenib-resistant clones in HCC cell lines (BEL7402 and Huh-7 cells) and in vivo using patient-derived xenograft (PDTX #1) by continuous exposure to sorafenib. We found that sorafenib-resistant clones showed enhanced T-IC properties such as self-renewal, tumorigenicity and invasiveness, which is also accompanied by an increase in CD47 expression. We found increased NF-κB activation in sorafenib resistant clones indicated by upregulated levels of phosphorylated p65 and IkBα which is consistent to the bioinformatics analysis showing two putative NF-κB binding sites on the CD47 promoter. In addition, CD47 expression was found to be decreased upon treatment of NF-κB inhibitor IMD-0354 and increased upon treatment of TNF-α. These results suggested that NF-κB mediated CD47 upregulation promotes sorafenib resistance in HCC. To further confirm the role of CD47 in sorafenib resistance, we knocked down CD47 expression in CD47-high expressing HCC cells. Through annexin V staining, we found that knockdown of CD47 sensitized Huh-7 and MHCC-97L to sorafenib treatment at 10µM and 20µM respectively. Using patient derived xenograft model (PDTX #8) to investigate the effect of different treatment regimens, we found that mice treated with daily administration of sorafenib (100mg/Kg) showed tumor volume reduction by 3-fold upon 30 days of treatment and a similar effect was found in mice treated daily with and anti-CD47 antibody (500mg/Kg). Interestingly, sorafenib combined with anti-CD47 antibody exhibited maximal effect on tumor suppression. All in all, regulation of CD47 by NF-κB may enable the promotion of sorafenib resistance and anti-CD47 antibody in co-treatment with sorafenib may serve as a novel therapeutic regimen for the treatment of advanced stage HCC.
Citation Format: Jessica Lo, Eunice Yuen Ting Lau, Irene Oi Lin Ng, Terence Kin Wah Lee. NF-κB mediated CD47 upregulation promotes sorafenib resistance and its blockade synergizes the effect of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1911. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1911
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lo
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine,The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eunice Yuen Ting Lau
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine,The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi Lin Ng
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine,The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine,The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Ng KY, Chai S, Tong M, Kwan PS, Chan YP, Lee TKW, Wong N, Guan XY, Ma S. Abstract LB-53: Regulatory role of miR-142-3p on the functional hepatic cancer stem cell marker CD133. Cancer Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2014-lb-53] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Tumor relapse after therapy typifies hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is believed to be attributable to residual cancer stem cells (CSCs) that survive initial treatment. We have previously identified a CSC population derived from HCC that is characterized by the expression of the transmembrane glycoprotein, CD133. Despite our growing knowledge of the importance of a functional CD133+ liver CSC subset in driving HCC, the regulatory mechanism of CD133 is not known. Epigenetic changes are believed to be essential in the control of cancer and stem cells. We report here the dynamic epigenetic regulation of the functional liver CSC marker CD133 by promoter methylation and miR-142-3p regulation. Unlike in other tumor types, we found DNA methylation to only play a minor role in the control of CD133 expression in HCC. More importantly, our results revealed that miR-142-3p plays an integral part in the direct targeting of CD133. The interaction between the 3’UTR of CD133 and miR-142-3p was identified by in silico prediction and substantiated by luciferase reporter analysis. Expression of CD133 was found to be inversely correlated with miR-142-3p in a panel of liver cell lines and HCC clinical samples. Functional studies with miR-142-3p stably transduced in HCC cells demonstrated a diminished ability to self-renew, initiate tumor growth, invade, migrate, induce capillary tube formation in endothelial cells and resist standard chemotherapy. Rescue experiments whereby CD133 and miR-142-3p is simultaneously overexpressed compensated the deregulated ability of the cells to confer these cancer and stem cell-like features. In summary, our findings suggestion promoter methylation to only play a minor role in the regulation of CD133 in HCC; and that miR-142-3p directly targets CD133 to regulate its ability to confer cancer and stem cell-like features in HCC.
Citation Format: Kai Yu Ng, Stella Chai, Man Tong, Pak Shing Kwan, Yuen Piu Chan, Terence Kin Wah Lee, Nathalie Wong, Xin-Yuan Guan, Stephanie Ma. Regulatory role of miR-142-3p on the functional hepatic cancer stem cell marker CD133. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-53. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-53
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Y. Ng
- 1The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stella Chai
- 1The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Man Tong
- 1The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Nathalie Wong
- 2The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Stephanie Ma
- 1The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lee TKW, Cheung VCH, Ng IOL. Liver tumor-initiating cells as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2012; 338:101-9. [PMID: 22579789 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2012] [Revised: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide and has poor prognosis. Existing treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation, which target tumor bulk, have demonstrated limited therapeutic efficacy. In the past 10years, accumulating evidence has supported the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor initiating cells (T-ICs) within tumors including HCC. Identification of liver T-ICs and the signaling pathways that they are involved in may shed light on novel therapeutic strategies against this deadly disease. In this review, we will discuss recent progresses made in the research of liver T-ICs with regard to identification, functional characterization, regulation and therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lee TKW, Castilho A, Cheung VCH, Tang KH, Ma S, Ng IOL. CD24(+) liver tumor-initiating cells drive self-renewal and tumor initiation through STAT3-mediated NANOG regulation. Cell Stem Cell 2012; 9:50-63. [PMID: 21726833 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 463] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Revised: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) are a subpopulation of chemoresistant tumor cells that have been shown to cause tumor recurrence upon chemotherapy. Identification of T-ICs and their related pathways are therefore priorities for the development of new therapeutic paradigms. We established chemoresistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft tumors in immunocompromised mice in which an enriched T-IC population was capable of tumor initiation and self-renewal. With this model, we found CD24 to be upregulated in residual chemoresistant tumors when compared with bulk tumor upon cisplatin treatment. CD24(+) HCC cells were found to be critical for the maintenance, self-renewal, differentiation, and metastasis of tumors and to significantly impact patients' clinical outcome. With a lentiviral-based knockdown approach, CD24 was found to be a functional liver T-IC marker that drives T-IC genesis through STAT3-mediated NANOG regulation. Our findings point to a CD24 cascade in liver T-ICs that may provide an attractive therapeutic target for HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Tse EYT, Ko FCF, Tung EKK, Chan LK, Lee TKW, Ngan ESW, Man K, Wong AST, Ng IOL, Yam JWP. Caveolin-1 overexpression is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma tumourigenesis and metastasis. J Pathol 2012; 226:645-53. [PMID: 22072235 DOI: 10.1002/path.3957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Caveolin-1 (Cav1) has been implicated in diverse human cancers, yet its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumourigenesis and metastasis remains elusive. In the current study, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding regarding the functional role of Cav1 in HCC tumourigenesis and metastasis. Cav1 expression was examined in a panel of human HCC cell lines using western blotting analysis and quantitative RT-PCR and human tissues by immunohistochemistry. Cav1 was not detected in normal liver cell line and all non-tumourous liver tissues but exclusively expressed in HCC cell lines and tissues. Dramatic expression of Cav1 was found in metastatic HCC cell lines and tumours, indicating a progressive increase of Cav1 expression along disease progression. Cav1 overexpression was significantly correlated with venous invasion (p = 0.036). To investigate the functions of Cav1 in HCC, Cav1 overexpressing and knockdown stable clones were established in HCC cells and their tumourigenicity and metastatic potential were examined. Overexpression of Cav1 promoted HCC cell growth, motility, and invasiveness, as well as tumourigenicity in vivo. Conversely, knockdown of Cav1 in metastatic HCC cells inhibited the motility and invasiveness and markedly suppressed the tumour growth and metastatic potential in vivo. Collectively, our findings have shown the exclusive expression of Cav1 in HCC cell lines and clinical samples and revealed an up-regulation of Cav1 along HCC progression. The definitive role of Cav1 in promoting HCC tumourigenesis was demonstrated, and we have shown for the first time in a mouse model that Cav1 promotes HCC metastasis.
Collapse
|
42
|
Lee TKW, Castilho A, Cheung VCH, Tang KH, Ma S, Ng IOL. Lupeol targets liver tumor-initiating cells through phosphatase and tensin homolog modulation. Hepatology 2011; 53:160-70. [PMID: 20979057 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Accepted: 09/13/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Liver tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) are capable of self-renewal and tumor initiation and are more chemoresistant to chemotherapeutic drugs. The current therapeutic strategies for targeting stem cell self-renewal pathways therefore represent rational approaches for cancer prevention and treatment. In the present study, we found that Lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol (lupeol), a triterpene found in fruits and vegetables, inhibited the self-renewal ability of liver T-ICs present in both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and clinical HCC samples, as reflected by hepatosphere formation. Furthermore, lupeol inhibited in vivo tumorigenicity in nude mice and down-regulated CD133 expression, which was previously shown to be a T-IC marker for HCC. In addition, lupeol sensitized HCC cells to chemotherapeutic agents through the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-Akt-ABCG2 pathway. PTEN plays a crucial role in the self-renewal and chemoresistance of liver T-ICs; down-regulation of PTEN by a lentiviral-based approach reversed the effect of lupeol on liver T-ICs. Using an in vivo chemoresistant HCC tumor model, lupeol dramatically decreased the tumor volumes of MHCC-LM3 HCC cell line-derived xenografts, and the effect was equivalent to that of combined cisplatin and doxorubicin treatment. Lupeol exerted a synergistic effect without any adverse effects on body weight when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that lupeol may be an effective dietary phytochemical that targets liver T-ICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terence Kin Wah Lee
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Luk SU, Yap WN, Chiu YT, Lee DTW, Ma S, Lee TKW, Vasireddy RS, Wong YC, Ching YP, Nelson C, Yap YL, Ling MT. Gamma-tocotrienol as an effective agent in targeting prostate cancer stem cell-like population. Int J Cancer 2010; 128:2182-91. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
|
44
|
Castilho AG, Lee TKW, Ma S, Tang KH, Ng IOL. Abstract 4314: CD24 is a functional marker that mediates liver tumor initiation via regulation of Nanog. Cancer Res 2010. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am10-4314] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease with poor prognosis attributed to the high recurrence rate post-resection. Chemotherapy is often ineffective due to chemoresistance, conferred by the presence of tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Hence, to improve outcome, it is imperative that markers and their pivotal pathways involved in tumor initiation.
Using HCC chemoresistant nude mice model, CD24 was found highly upregulated when compared to untreated tumor by cDNA microarray analysis. CD24 expression was first examined in HCC cell lines and human clinical HCC. CD24 expression across a HCC cell line panel ranged from 6.0% to 99.8%. Notably, no expression was detected in the non-tumorigenic hepatic cell line MIHA. Expression of CD24 was also found to represent only a minority (<1%) of the tumor cell population in 40% human HCC by immunohistochemistry. Using antibody-based magnetic and FACS-sorting respectively, CD24- and CD24+ tumor cells were isolated from three HCC patients and two HCC cell lines. The CD24+ HCC cells displayed the phenotype of self-renewing CSCs, including enhanced sphere-forming ability, higher anchorage-independent growth ability, capability of differentiation, and preferential expression of “stem-ness’ genes. Functional roles of CD24 in self-renewal and tumor initiation were further demonstrated by stable knockdown of CD24 expression in both HCC cell lines and clinical samples using lentiviral-based shRNA. When shCD24-Huh7 cells were injected subcutaneously into SCID mice, only 7/31 (22%) mice formed tumors, as compared to 20/31 (65%) tumors of significantly greater size, for controls. In addition, CD24-knockdown cells exhibited more rapid proliferation and chemo-sensitivity towards chemotherapeutic drugs. By quantitative PCR, CD24 mRNA was implicated in poor prognosis of 36 clinical HCC samples including tumor stages (p=0.024) and tumor recurrence(p=0.047).
Notably, whether by cell sorting or gene-knockdown approach, it was shown by quantitative PCR and western blotting that CD24 and Nanog, a gene important for the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, were co-expressed in HCC cells. We therefore hypothesize that the functional role of CD24 in liver tumor initiation is mediated through regulation of Nanog expression. Upon transfection of Nanog cDNA into CD24-knockdown cells, self-renewal and tumor formation were functionally recovered, suggesting Nanog as the downstream effector of CD24. Moreover, CD24 acts through nanog via phosphorylation of Stat3, which is the main upstream regulator of Nanog in embryonic stem (ES) cells
Findings from this study indicate the role of CD24 as a marker of chemoresistant TICs in HCC, and introduce a novel mechanism through which tumor initiation may be effected by this marker. This opens the window towards further studies on HCC TICs, which may have important ramifications in future therapeutics against this deadly disease.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4314.
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. Current therapeutic strategies against this disease target mostly rapidly growing differentiated tumour cells. However, the result is often dismal due to the chemoresistant nature of this tumour type. Recent research efforts on stem cells and cancer biology have shed light on new directions for the eradication of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in HCC. The liver is a distinctive organ with the ability of tissue renewal in response to injury. Based on the hypothesis that cancer development is derived from the hierarchy of the stem cell system, we will briefly discuss the origin of liver stem cells and its relation to HCC development. We will also summarize the current CSC markers in HCC and discuss their relevance to the treatment of this deadly disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Liver Cancer and Hepatitis Research Laboratory and S. H. Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|