RESUMEN
The immune resistance of tumor microenvironment (TME) causes immune checkpoint blockade therapy inefficient to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging strategies of using chemotherapy regimens to reverse the immune resistance provide the promise for promoting the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The induction of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in tumor cells evokes the adaptive immunity and remodels the immunosuppressive TME. In this study, we report that mitoxantrone (MIT, a chemotherapeutic drug) activates the cGAS-STING signaling pathway of HCC cells. We provide an approach to augment the efficacy of MIT using a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor called napabucasin (NAP). We prepare an aminoethyl anisamide (AEAA)-targeted polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based nanocarrier for co-delivery of MIT and NAP. The resultant co-nanoformulation can elicit the cGAS-STING-based immune responses to reshape the immunoresistant TME in the mice orthotopically grafted with HCC. Consequently, the resultant co-nanoformulation can promote anti-PD-1 antibody for suppressing HCC development, generating long-term survival, and inhibiting tumor recurrence. This study reveals the potential of MIT to activate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, and confirms the feasibility of nano co-delivery for MIT and NAP on achieving HCC chemo-immunotherapy.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Inmunoterapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Proteínas de la Membrana , Mitoxantrona , Nucleotidiltransferasas , Factor de Transcripción STAT3 , Mitoxantrona/farmacología , Mitoxantrona/uso terapéutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Animales , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Humanos , Nucleotidiltransferasas/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Factor de Transcripción STAT3/metabolismo , Ratones , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Benzofuranos , NaftoquinonasRESUMEN
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been widely used as adjuvant of anti-tumor therapy for variety tumors. The bioactive ingredients of G. lucidum mainly include triterpenes, such as Ganoderic acid A, Ganoderic acid B, Ganoderenic acid A, Ganoderenic acid B, Ganoderenic acid D, and Ganoderic acid X. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of G. lucidum are often challenging in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the potential role and mechanism of enhancer-associated lncRNAs (en-lncRNAs) in G. lucidum treated HCC through the in vivo and in vitro experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepa1-6-bearing C57 BL/6 mice model were established to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of G. lucidum treated HCC. Ki67 and TUNEL staining were used to detect the tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis in vivo. The Mouse lncRNA 4*180K array was implemented to identify the differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs of G. lucidum treated tumor mice. The constructed lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and bioinformatics analysis were used to selected core en-lncRNAs and its neighboring genes. The UPLC-MS method was used to identify the triterpenes of G. lucidum, and the in vitro experiments were used to verify which triterpene monomers regulated en-lncRNAs in tumor cells. Finally, a stable knockdown/overexpression cell lines were used to confirm the relationship between en-lncRNA and neighboring gene. RESULTS: Ki67 and TUNEL staining demonstrated G. lucidum significantly inhibited tumor growth, suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the existence of 126 DE lncRNAs high correlated with 454 co-expressed mRNAs in G. lucidum treated tumor mice. Based on lncRNA-mRNA network and qRT-PCR validation, 6 core lncRNAs were selected and considered high correlated with G. lucidum treatment. Bioinformatics analysis revealed FR036820 and FR121302 might act as enhancers, and qRT-PCR results suggested FR121302 might enhance Popdc2 mRNA level in HCC. Furthermore, 6 main triterpene monomers of G. lucidum were identified by UPLC-MS method, and in vitro experiments showed FR121302 and Popdc2 were significantly suppressed by Ganoderenic acid A and Ganoderenic acid B, respectively. The knock/overexpression results demonstrated that FR121302 activating and enhancing Popdc2 expression levels, and Ganoderenic acid A and Ganoderenic acid B dramatically suppressed FR121302 and decreased Popdc2 level in Hepa1-6 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancer-associated lncRNA plays a crucial role as an enhancer during hepatocarcinogenesis, and triterpenes of G. lucidum significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by regulating en-lncRNAs. Our study demonstrated Ganoderenic acid A and Ganoderenic acid B suppressed en-lncRNA FR121302 may be one of the critical strategies of G. lucidum inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth.
Asunto(s)
Apoptosis , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Proliferación Celular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , ARN Largo no Codificante , Reishi , Triterpenos , Animales , Triterpenos/farmacología , Triterpenos/aislamiento & purificación , ARN Largo no Codificante/genética , ARN Largo no Codificante/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Reishi/química , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Ratones , Línea Celular Tumoral , Masculino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
The natural history of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is complex and long. A minority of patients develop inflammation and risk progressive fibrosis that can result in cirrhosis. Progression to cirrhosis occurs in 3-5% of patients and often takes more than 20 years. This narrative review presents an update on the natural history of MASLD, discussing studies and risk estimates for progression to severe outcomes, such as decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. We highlight the dynamic progression of liver damage, how to identify patients whose disease progresses over time, and how risk factors might be mitigated to reduce the risk for disease progression.
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Progresión de la Enfermedad , Cirrosis Hepática , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , Humanos , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/metabolismo , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/complicaciones , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/patología , Factores de Riesgo , Cirrosis Hepática/metabolismo , Cirrosis Hepática/complicaciones , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologíaRESUMEN
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal form of liver cancer, and the tumor microenvironment, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), plays a critical role in its progression. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which CAF-derived exosomes regulate the development of HCC. The study employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for mRNA expression analysis and western blot analysis for protein expression detection. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay were performed to investigate the relationship between zinc finger protein 250 (ZNF250) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1). Transmission electron microscopy and western blot analysis were used to characterize the isolated exosomes. The transferability of CAF-derived exosomes and normal fibroblasts (NFs)-derived exosomes into HCC cells was analyzed using a green fluorescent labeling dye PKH67. Cell proliferation was assessed via a 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, while Transwell assays were conducted to evaluate cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was performed to measure cell apoptosis, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and perforin. Finally, a xenograft mouse model was constructed to examine the effects of exosomes derived from ZNF250-deficient CAFs on the tumor properties of HCC cells. The study revealed increased expression of ZNF250 in HCC tissues and cells, with ZNF250 transcriptionally activating PD-L1 in HCC cells. ZNF250 expression was associated with HbsAg, clinical stage and tumor size of HCC patients. CAF-derived exosomal ZNF250 can regulate PD-L1 expression in HCC cells. Furthermore, exosomes derived from ZNF250-deficient CAFs inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune escape of HCC cells by downregulating PD-L1 expression. Moreover, CAF-derived exosomal ZNF250 promoted tumor formation in vivo. These findings provide insights into the role of CAF-derived exosomes in the suppression of HCC development, highlighting the significance of ZNF250 and PD-L1 regulation in tumor progression.
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Antígeno B7-H1 , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Movimiento Celular , Proliferación Celular , Exosomas , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Antígeno B7-H1/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Humanos , Exosomas/metabolismo , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/metabolismo , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/patología , Animales , Ratones , Invasividad Neoplásica , Línea Celular Tumoral , Escape del Tumor , Ratones Desnudos , Masculino , Activación Transcripcional , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión GénicaRESUMEN
Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the key components of the immune barrier in liver cancer. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the heterogeneity and intercellular communication of CAFs holds utmost importance in boosting immunotherapy effectiveness and improving clinical outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive analysis by combing single-cell, bulk, and spatial transcriptome profiling with multiplexed immunofluorescence was conducted to unravel the complexities of CAFs in liver cancer. Results: Through an integrated approach involving 235 liver cancer scRNA-seq samples encompassing over 1.2 million cells, we found that CAFs were particularly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). FAP + fibroblasts were identified as the dominant subtype of CAFs, and which were mainly involved in extracellular matrix organization and angiogenesis. These CAFs were enriched in the tumor boundary of HCC, but diffusely scattered within ICC. The DAB2 + and SPP1 + tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) reinforce the function of FAP + CAFs through signals such as TGF-ß, PDGF, and ADM. Notably, the interaction between DAB2 + TAMs and FAP + CAFs promoted the formation of immune barrier and correlated with poorer patient survival, non-response to immunotherapy in HCC. High FAP and DAB2 immunohistochemical scores predicted shorter survival and higher serum AFP concentration in a local clinical cohort of 90 HCC patients. Furthermore, this communication pattern might be applicable to other solid malignancies as well. Conclusions: The interaction between DAB2 + TAMs and FAP + CAFs appears crucial in shaping the immune barrier. Strategies aimed at disrupting this communication or inhibiting the functions of FAP + CAFs could potentially enhance immunotherapy effectiveness and improve clinical outcomes.
Asunto(s)
Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/inmunología , Macrófagos Asociados a Tumores/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales/genética , Colangiocarcinoma/terapia , Colangiocarcinoma/patología , Colangiocarcinoma/inmunología , Colangiocarcinoma/metabolismo , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Masculino , Femenino , EndopeptidasasRESUMEN
Liver cancer is a global health challenge, causing a significant social-economic burden. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant type of primary liver cancer, which is highly heterogeneous in terms of molecular and cellular signatures. Early-stage or small tumors are typically treated with surgery or ablation. Currently, chemotherapies and immunotherapies are the best treatments for unresectable tumors or advanced HCC. However, drug response and acquired resistance are not predictable with the existing systematic guidelines regarding mutation patterns and molecular biomarkers, resulting in sub-optimal treatment outcomes for many patients with atypical molecular profiles. With advanced technological platforms, valuable information such as tumor genetic alterations, epigenetic data, and tumor microenvironments can be obtained from liquid biopsy. The inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of HCC are illustrated, and these collective data provide solid evidence in the decision-making process of treatment regimens. This article reviews the current understanding of HCC detection methods and aims to update the development of HCC surveillance using liquid biopsy. Recent critical findings on the molecular basis, epigenetic profiles, circulating tumor cells, circulating DNAs, and omics studies are elaborated for HCC diagnosis. Besides, biomarkers related to the choice of therapeutic options are discussed. Some notable recent clinical trials working on targeted therapies are also highlighted. Insights are provided to translate the knowledge into potential biomarkers for detection and diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and drug resistance indicators in clinical practice.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Biopsia Líquida/métodos , Manejo de la Enfermedad , Pronóstico , Epigénesis Genética , Animales , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Postoperative recurrence is a vital reason for poor 5-year overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The ADV score is considered a parameter that can quantify HCC aggressiveness. This study aimed to identify HCC patients at high-risk of recurrence early using the ADV score. METHODS: The medical data of consecutive HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy from The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (TFAHNJMU) and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (NJDTH) were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the status of microvascular invasion and the Edmondson-Steiner grade, HCC patients were divided into three groups: low-risk group (group 1: no risk factor exists), medium-risk group (group 2: one risk factor exists), and high-risk group (group 3: coexistence of two risk factors). In the training cohort (TFAHNJMU), the R package nnet was used to establish a multi-categorical unordered logistic regression model based on the ADV score to predict three risk groups. The Welch's T-test was used to compare differences in clinical variables in three predicted risk groups. NJDTH served as an external validation center. At last, the confusion matrix was developed using the R package caret to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the model. RESULTS: 350 and 405 patients from TFAHNJMU and NJDTH were included. HCC patients in different risk groups had significantly different liver function and inflammation levels. Density maps demonstrated that the ADV score could best differentiate between the three risk groups. The probability curve was plotted according to the predicted results of the multi-categorical unordered logistic regression model, and the best cut-off values of the ADV score were as follows: low-risk ≤ 3.4 log, 3.4 log < medium-risk ≤ 5.7 log, and high-risk > 5.7 log. The sensitivities of the ADV score predicting the high-risk group (group 3) were 70.2% (99/141) and 78.8% (63/80) in the training and external validation cohort, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ADV score might become a valuable marker for screening patients at high-risk of HCC recurrence with a cut-off value of 5.7 log, which might help surgeons, pathologists, and HCC patients make appropriate clinical decisions.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Hepatectomía , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/cirugía , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugía , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico , Estudios Retrospectivos , Femenino , Masculino , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/patología , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/diagnóstico , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Estudios de Seguimiento , Pronóstico , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Medición de Riesgo/estadística & datos numéricos , Detección Precoz del Cáncer/métodos , Invasividad Neoplásica , Tasa de Supervivencia , AncianoRESUMEN
Purpose: The efficacy of systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited mainly by the complex tumor defense mechanism and the severe toxic side-effects of drugs. The efficacy of apatinib (Apa), a key liver cancer treatment, is unsatisfactory due to inadequate targeting and is accompanied by notable side-effects. Leveraging nanomaterials to enhance its targeting represents a crucial strategy for improving the effectiveness of liver cancer therapy. Patients and Methods: A metal polyphenol network-coated apatinib-loaded metal-organic framework-based multifunctional drug-delivery system (MIL-100@Apa@MPN) was prepared by using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as carriers. The nanoparticles (NPs) were subsequently characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential measurements, and particle size analysis. In vitro experiments were conducted to observe the drug release kinetics and cytotoxic effects of MIL-100@Apa@MPN on HepG2 cells. The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of MIL-100@Apa@MPN was evaluated using the H22 tumor-bearing mouse model. Results: The formulated MIL-100@Apa@MPN demonstrates remarkable thermal stability and possesses a uniform structure, with measured drug-loading (DL) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) rates of 28.33% and 85.01%, respectively. In vitro studies demonstrated that HepG2 cells efficiently uptake coumarin-6-loaded NPs, and a significant increase in cumulative drug release was observed under lower pH conditions (pH 5.0), leading to the release of approximately 73.72% of Apa. In HepG2 cells, MIL-100@Apa@MPN exhibited more significant antiproliferative activity compared to free Apa. In vivo, MIL-100@Apa@MPN significantly inhibited tumor growth, attenuated side-effects, and enhanced therapeutic effects in H22 tumor-bearing mice compared to other groups. Conclusion: We have successfully constructed a MOF delivery system with excellent safety, sustained-release capability, pH-targeting, and improved anti-tumor efficacy, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of HCC.
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Antineoplásicos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Liberación de Fármacos , Ferroptosis , Estructuras Metalorgánicas , Piridinas , Estructuras Metalorgánicas/química , Animales , Humanos , Piridinas/química , Piridinas/administración & dosificación , Piridinas/farmacocinética , Piridinas/farmacología , Ratones , Células Hep G2 , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Ferroptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/farmacocinética , Antineoplásicos/administración & dosificación , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Sistemas de Liberación de Medicamentos/métodos , Portadores de Fármacos/química , Portadores de Fármacos/farmacocinética , Tamaño de la Partícula , Nanopartículas/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Sitravatinib is a spectrum-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER), VEGFR-2, KIT, and MET. SAFFRON-104 (NCT03941873) was a multicohort phase Ib/II study investigating sitravatinib with/without tislelizumab, an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). METHODS: Eligible patients had histologically/cytologically confirmed advanced HCC or GC/GEJC. Phase I determined the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of sitravatinib with/without tislelizumab. Phase II evaluated sitravatinib monotherapy in patients with pretreated HCC, and sitravatinib plus tislelizumab in anti-PD-(L)1-naïve or -treated HCC and anti-PD-(L)1-naïve GC/GEJC. Primary endpoints were safety/tolerability (phase I) and objective response rate (ORR) (phase II). RESULTS: At data cutoff (March 31, 2023), 111 patients were enrolled; 102 were efficacy-evaluable (median study follow-up 9.1 months [range: 0.7-36.9]). The RP2D of sitravatinib was determined as 120 mg orally once daily. In patients receiving sitravatinib monotherapy and sitravatinib in combination with tislelizumab, grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 14 (51.9%) and 42 (50.0%) patients, respectively. The ORR was 25% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.7-49.1) in patients with pretreated HCC receiving sitravatinib monotherapy. In patients receiving sitravatinib with tislelizumab, the ORR was 11.5% (95% CI 2.4-30.2) with anti-PD-(L)1-naïve HCC, 9.5% (95% CI 1.2-30.4) with anti-PD-(L)1-treated HCC, and 16.1% (95% CI 5.5-33.7) in patients with anti-PD-(L)1-naïve GC/GEJC. CONCLUSIONS: Sitravatinib with/without tislelizumab was generally well tolerated and showed preliminary antitumor activity in patients with advanced HCC and GC/GEJC.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Unión Esofagogástrica , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Neoplasias Gástricas , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/uso terapéutico , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/efectos adversos , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/farmacología , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Gástricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Gástricas/patología , Unión Esofagogástrica/patología , Adulto , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacología , Neoplasias Esofágicas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Esofágicas/patología , Anciano de 80 o más AñosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular cancer is substantially correlated with the abnormal expression of growing long non-coding RNA small nucleolar host gene RNA (SNHG) families in liver cancer tissues. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SNHG expression and liver cancer prognosis. METHODS: After searching six internet databases, pertinent manuscripts were found based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. To determine whether SNHG expression levels affect liver cancer prognosis, raw data were collected and hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The results were examined for potential publication bias using the sensitivity analysis and Beeg's test. RESULTS: Most SNHG family members were up-regulated in liver cancer tissues. High SNHG expression predicts poor liver cancer outcomes of, including overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.697, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.373-2.021), especially SNHG5 (the HR of OS is 4.74, 95%CI range from 1.35 to 6.64), progression-free survival (HR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.25-2.73), tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage (OR: 1.696, 95% CI: 1.436-2.005), lymph node metastasis (OR: 2.383, 95% CI: 1.098-5.173), and tumor size (OR: 1363, 95% CI: 1.165-1.595). The OS results were found to be reliable and robust, as indicated by the sensitivity analysis. Additionally, Beeg's test demonstrated the absence of any potential publication bias for each result. CONCLUSION: In liver cancer tissues, most SNHGs are highly expressed, which may signal poor prognosis. SNHG has the potential to be an intriguing predictive marker and a prospective therapeutic target for liver cancer.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , ARN Nucleolar Pequeño , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Pronóstico , ARN Nucleolar Pequeño/genética , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , ARN Largo no Codificante/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión GénicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Proliferative hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) is a class of aggressive tumors with poor prognosis. We aimed to construct a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram to predict proliferative HCC, stratify clinical outcomes and explore the tumor microenvironment. METHODS: Patients with pathologically diagnosed HCC following a hepatectomy were retrospectively collected from two medical centers. A CT-based radiomics nomogram incorporating radiomics model and clinicoradiological features to predict proliferative HCC was constructed using the training cohort (n = 184), and validated using an internal test cohort (n = 80) and an external test cohort (n = 89). The predictive performance of the nomogram for clinical outcomes was evaluated for HCC patients who underwent surgery (n = 201) or received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, n = 104). RNA sequencing data and histological tissue slides from The Cancer Imaging Archive database were used to perform transcriptomics and pathomics analysis. RESULTS: The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the radiomics nomogram to predict proliferative HCC were 0.84, 0.87, and 0.85 in the training, internal test, and external test cohorts, respectively. The radiomics nomogram could stratify early recurrence-free survivals in the surgery outcome cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.25; P < 0.001) and progression-free survivals in the TACE outcome cohort (HR = 2.21; P = 0.03). Transcriptomics and pathomics analysis indicated that the radiomics nomogram was associated with carbon metabolism, immune cells infiltration, TP53 mutation, and heterogeneity of tumor cells. CONCLUSION: The CT-based radiomics nomogram could predict proliferative HCC, stratify clinical outcomes, and measure a pro-tumor microenvironment.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Nomogramas , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico por imagen , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proliferación Celular , Curva ROC , Anciano , Estudios Retrospectivos , Estudios de Cohortes , Pronóstico , RadiómicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Ferroptosis, characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, emerges as a promising avenue for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) intervention due to its tumor susceptibility. RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been involved in several types of regulated cell death. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of m6A-related regulators in HCC cell ferroptosis remain unclear. METHODS: By examining a series of m6A modification enzymes upon ferroptosis induction or inhibition, we identified METTL16 as a novel ferroptotic repressor in HCC cells. The roles of METTL16 on ferroptosis and HCC development were investigated in multiple cell lines, human HCC organoids, subcutaneous xenografts and MYC/Trp53-/- HCC model in hepatocyte-specific Mettl16 knockout and overexpression mice. The underlying mechanism was elucidated with MeRIP/RIP-qPCR, luciferase assay, Co-IP assay and Mass Spectrometry. The clinical significance and relevance were evaluated in human samples. RESULTS: High METTL16 expression confers ferroptosis resistance in HCC cells and mouse models, and promotes cell viability and tumor progression. Mechanistically, METTL16 collaborates with IGF2BP2 to modulate SENP3 mRNA stability in an m6A-dependent manner, and the latter impedes the proteasome-mediated ubiquitination degradation of Lactotransferrin (LTF) via de-SUMOylation. Elevated LTF expression facilitates the chelation of free iron and reduces liable iron pool level. SENP3 and LTF are implicated in METTL16-mediated HCC progression and anti-ferroptotic effects both in vivo and in vitro. Clinically, METTL16 and SENP3 expression were positively correlated, and high METTL16 and SENP3 expression predicts poor prognosis in human HCC samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a new METTL16-SENP3-LTF signaling axis regulating ferroptosis and driving HCC development. Targeting this axis is a promising strategy for sensitizing ferroptosis and against HCC.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Ferroptosis , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Metiltransferasas , Proteínas de Unión al ARN , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Carcinogénesis/metabolismo , Carcinogénesis/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Línea Celular Tumoral , Cisteína Endopeptidasas , Ferroptosis/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Metiltransferasas/metabolismo , Metiltransferasas/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a pivotal role in immunosuppression and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While various treatments like surgical resection, ablation, and radiotherapy have been studied for their effects on circulating MDSC frequencies in HCC patients, the findings remain inconclusive. Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) stands as the standard care for unresectable HCC, with Microparticle TACE (mTACE) gaining prominence for its capacity to induce significant tumor necrosis. However, the immunological ramifications of such pathological outcomes are scarcely reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study aims to elucidate the alterations in MDSC subtypes, specifically monocytic MDSCs (mMDSCs) and early-stage MDSCs (eMDSCs), post-mTACE and to investigate their clinical correlations in HCC patients. A cohort comprising 75 HCC patients, 16 liver cirrhosis patients, and 20 healthy controls (HC) was studied. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed for MDSC subtypes. The study also explored the associations between MDSC frequencies and various clinical parameters in HCC patients. The frequency of mMDSCs was significantly elevated in the HCC group compared to liver cirrhosis and HC. Importantly, mMDSC levels were strongly correlated with aggressive clinical features of HCC, including tumor size, vascular invasion, and distant metastasis. Post-mTACE, a marked reduction in mMDSC frequencies was observed, while eMDSC levels remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the critical role of mMDSCs in HCC pathogenesis and their potential as a therapeutic target. The study also highlights the efficacy of mTACE in modulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thereby opening new avenues for combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies in HCC management.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Quimioembolización Terapéutica , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Células Supresoras de Origen Mieloide , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Células Supresoras de Origen Mieloide/inmunología , Quimioembolización Terapéutica/métodos , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Micropartículas Derivadas de Células/inmunología , Micropartículas Derivadas de Células/metabolismo , Adulto , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a significant challenge to global health. Its pathophysiology involves interconnected processes, including cell proliferation, autophagy, and macrophage polarization. However, the role of Absent in Melanoma 2 (AIM2) in HCC remains elusive. METHODS: The expression of AIM2 in Huh-7 and Hep3B cell lines was manipulated and cell proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and migration/invasion, together with the polarization of M2 macrophages, were evaluated. The markers of autophagy pathway, LC3B, Beclin-1, and P62, underwent examination through Western blot analysis. An autophagy inhibitor, 3-MA, was used to measured the role of autophagy in HCC. Finally, the effect of AIM2 overexpression on HCC was further evaluated using a subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice. RESULTS: Our results established that AIM2 overexpression inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis and autophagy. Conversely, knockdown of AIM2 engendered opposite effects. AIM2 overexpression was correlated with reduced M2 macrophage polarization. The autophagy inhibitor substantiated AIM2's role in autophagy and identified its downstream impact on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and macrophage polarization. In the in vivo model, overexpression of AIM2 led to the inhibition of HCC tumor growth. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore AIM2's crucial function in modulating major biological processes in HCC, pointing to its potential as a therapeutic target. This study inaugurally demonstrated that AIM2 activates autophagy and influences macrophage polarization, playing a role in liver cancer progression.
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Autofagia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Movimiento Celular , Proliferación Celular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Macrófagos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Autofagia/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , Apoptosis/genética , Ratones Desnudos , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Activación de Macrófagos/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a formidable challenge in oncology, with its pathogenesis and progression influenced by myriad factors. Among them, the pervasive organic synthetic compound, bisphenol A (BPA), previously linked with various adverse health effects, has been speculated to play a role. This study endeavors to elucidate the complex interplay between BPA, the immune microenvironment of HCC, and the broader molecular landscape of this malignancy. METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was undertaken using data procured from both The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Rigorous differential expression analyses were executed, supplemented by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. In addition, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis and gene set variation analysis were employed to reveal potential molecular links and insights. Immune infiltration patterns were delineated, and a series of in vitro experiments on HCC cells were conducted to directly assess the impact of BPA exposure. RESULTS: Our findings unveiled a diverse array of active immune cells and functions within HCC. Distinct correlations emerged between high-immune-related scores, established markers of the tumor microenvironment and the expression of immune checkpoint genes. A significant discovery was the identification of key genes simultaneously associated with immune-related pathways and BPA exposure. Leveraging these genes, a prognostic model was crafted, offering predictive insights into HCC patient outcomes. Intriguingly, in vitro studies suggested that BPA exposure could promote proliferation in HCC cells. CONCLUSION: This research underscores the multifaceted nature of HCC's immune microenvironment and sheds light on BPA's potential modulatory effects therein. The constructed prognostic model, if validated further, could serve as a robust tool for risk stratification in HCC, potentially guiding therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, the implications of the findings for immunotherapy are profound, suggesting new avenues for enhancing treatment efficacy. As the battle against HCC continues, understanding of environmental modulators like BPA becomes increasingly pivotal.
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Compuestos de Bencidrilo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Fenoles , Microambiente Tumoral , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inducido químicamente , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Compuestos de Bencidrilo/efectos adversos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inducido químicamente , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Humanos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Fenoles/efectos adversos , Fenoles/toxicidad , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genéticaRESUMEN
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the role of discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (DDR1) in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and to evaluate its prognostic value on patient response to combination therapy. METHODS: In the current retrospective study, we examined the protein expression of DDR1 in various cancers by standard immunohistochemical (IHC) methods and evaluated its clinical significance in LIHC personalized treatment. Multiple online databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), TIMER, GEO, ROC Plotter, and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC), were used. RESULTS: DDR1 protein expression was higher in LIHC than in other nine examined cancer types. Additionally, DDR1 exhibited higher expression levels in adjacent normal tissues compared to HBs-positive LIHC tissues. Analysis at single-cell resolution revealed that DDR1 was expressed primarily in epithelial cells but not in stromal and immune cells, and DDR1 expression was lower in HBs-positive LIHC cells in comparison with normal hepatocytes. Correlation of DDR1 upregulation and sorafenib resistance was observed in the patient cohort. Moreover, DDR1 expression positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory response-related genes, ECM-related genes, and collagen formation-related genes, but negatively correlated with the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells in LIHC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that DDR1 expression might be induced by collagen production-related cellular events involved in liver injury and repair, and that DDR1 overexpression might contribute to the resistance to LIHC targeted therapy and immunotherapy, highlighting DDR1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
This study aimed to investigate the role of discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (DDR1) in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and to evaluate its prognostic value on patient response to combination therapy. In the current retrospective study, we examined the protein expression of DDR1 in various cancers by standard immunohistochemical (IHC) methods and evaluated its clinical significance in LIHC personalized treatment. Multiple online databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), TIMER, GEO, ROC Plotter, and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC), were used. DDR1 protein expression was higher in LIHC than in other nine examined cancer types. Additionally, DDR1 exhibited higher expression levels in adjacent normal tissues compared to HBs-positive LIHC tissues. Analysis at single-cell resolution revealed that DDR1 was expressed primarily in epithelial cells but not stromal cells and immune cells, and DDR1 expression was lower in HBs-positive LIHC cells in comparison with normal hepatocytes. Correlation of DDR1 upregulation and sorafenib resistance was observed in patient cohort. Moreover, DDR1 expression positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory response-related genes, ECM-related genes, and collagen formation-related genes but negatively correlated with the infiltration of CD8 + T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells in LIHC. Our findings suggest that DDR1 expression might be induced by collagen production-related cellular events involved in liver injury and repair and that DDR1 overexpression might contribute to the resistance to LIHC targeted therapy and immunotherapy, highlighting DDR1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Receptor con Dominio Discoidina 1 , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Sorafenib , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Receptor con Dominio Discoidina 1/metabolismo , Receptor con Dominio Discoidina 1/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Estudios Retrospectivos , Sorafenib/uso terapéutico , Sorafenib/farmacología , Masculino , Femenino , Pronóstico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genéticaRESUMEN
Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is one of the common complications of HCC and represents a sign of poor prognosis. PVTT signifies advanced liver cancer, deteriorating liver function, and heightened susceptibility to intrahepatic dissemination, systemic metastasis, and complications related to portal hypertension. It is important to seek novel strategies for PVTT arising from HCC. Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a worse liver function, less treatment tolerance, and poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the combination of the DeRitis ratio (AST/ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) index (briefly named DALP) in predicting the occurrence risk of PVTT in patients with HCC. We performed a retrospective study enrolling consecutive patients with HCC from January 2017 to December 2020 in Hebei Medical University Third Hospital. ROC analysis was performed to estimate the predictive effectiveness and optimal cut-off value of DALP for PVTT occurrence in patients with HCC. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the survival probabilities in each subgroup according to the risk classification of DALP value. Univariate and multivariate Logistics regression analyses were applied to determine the independent risk for poor prognosis. ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value for DALP was 1.045, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.793 (95% CI 0.697-0.888). Based on the DALP classification (three scores: 0-2) with distinguishable prognoses, patients in the score 0 group had the best prognosis with a 1-year overall survival (OS) of 100%, whereas score 2 patients had the worst prognosis with 1-year OS of 72.4%. Similarly, there was a statistically different recurrence-free survival among the three groups. Besides, this risk classification was also associated with PVTT progression in HCC patients (odds ratio [OR] 5.822, P < 0.0001). Pathologically, patients in the score 2 group had more advanced tumors considering PVTT, extrahepatic metastasis, and ascites than those in score 0, 1 groups. Moreover, patients with a score of 2 had more severe hepatic inflammation than other groups. Combination of DeRitis ratio and ALP index presented a better predictive value for PVTT occurrence in patients with HCC, contributing to the tertiary prevention.
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Fosfatasa Alcalina , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Vena Porta , Trombosis de la Vena , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/complicaciones , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/complicaciones , Masculino , Femenino , Vena Porta/patología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Fosfatasa Alcalina/sangre , Estudios Retrospectivos , Pronóstico , Trombosis de la Vena/etiología , Trombosis de la Vena/patología , Trombosis de la Vena/complicaciones , Anciano , Curva ROC , Estimación de Kaplan-MeierRESUMEN
Dysregulation of master regulator c-MYC (MYC) plays a central role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other cancers but remains an elusive target for therapeutic intervention. MYC expression is epigenetically modulated within naturally occurring DNA loop structures, Insulated Genomic Domains (IGDs). We present a therapeutic approach using an epigenomic controller (EC), a programmable epigenomic mRNA medicine, to precisely modify MYC IGD sub-elements, leading to methylation of MYC regulatory elements and durable downregulation of MYC mRNA transcription. Significant antitumor activity is observed in preclinical models of HCC treated with the MYC-targeted EC, as monotherapy or in combination with tyrosine kinase or immune checkpoint inhibitors. These findings pave the way for clinical development of MYC-targeting epigenomic controllers in HCC patients and provide a framework for programmable epigenomic mRNA therapeutics for cancer and other diseases.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Metilación de ADN , Regulación hacia Abajo , Epigenómica , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-myc , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Humanos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-myc/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-myc/metabolismo , Animales , Ratones , Línea Celular Tumoral , Regulación hacia Abajo/genética , Epigenómica/métodos , Epigénesis Genética , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Transcripción Genética , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismoRESUMEN
CD98, also known as SLC3A2, is a multifunctional cell surface molecule consisting of amino acid transporters. CD98 is ubiquitously expressed in many types of tissues, but expressed at higher levels in cancerous tissues than in normal tissues. CD98 is also upregulated in most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients; however, the function of CD98 in HCC cells has been little studied. In this study, we generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against surface proteins on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). NPB15, one of the MAbs, bound to hESCs and various cancer cells, including HCC cells and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells, but not to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and primary hepatocytes. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry identified the target antigen of NPB15 as CD98. CD98 depletion decreased cell proliferation, clonogenic survival, and migration and induced apoptosis in HCC cells. In addition, CD98 depletion decreased the expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers in HCC cells. In tumorsphere cultures, the expression of CD98 interacting with NPB15 was significantly increased, as were known CSC markers. After cell sorting by NPB15, cells with high expression of CD98 (CD98-high) showed higher clonogenic survival than cells with low expression of CD98 (CD98-low) in HCC cells, suggesting CD98 as a potential CSC marker on HCC cells. The chimeric version of NPB15 was able to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against HCC cells in vitro. NPB15 injection showed antitumor activity in an HCC xenograft mouse model. The results suggest that NPB15 may be developed as a therapeutic antibody for HCC patients.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Proteína-1 Reguladora de Fusión , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/inmunología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/inmunología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Animales , Ratones , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/farmacología , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Proteína-1 Reguladora de Fusión/metabolismo , Proteína-1 Reguladora de Fusión/inmunología , Células Madre Embrionarias Humanas/metabolismo , Células Madre Embrionarias Humanas/inmunología , Proliferación Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Apoptosis , Células Madre Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células Madre Neoplásicas/inmunología , Cadena Pesada de la Proteína-1 Reguladora de FusiónRESUMEN
Rationale: Tumor cells remodel transcriptome to construct an ecosystem with stemness features, which maintains tumor growth and highly malignant characteristics. However, the core regulatory factors involved in this process still need to be further discovered. Methods: Single cell RNA-sequncing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-sequencing profiles derived from fetal liver, normal liver, liver tumors, and their adjacent samples were collected to analyze the ecosystem of liver cancer. Mouse models were established to identify molecular functions of oncofetal-related oncogenes using hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Results: We found that liver cancer rebuilt oncofetal ecosystem to maintain malignant features. Interestingly, we identified a group of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that were highly overexpressed with oncofetal features. Among them, TRIM71 was specifically expressed in liver cancers and was associated with poor outcomes. TRIM71 drove the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and knockdown of TRIM71 significantly abolished liver cancer cell proliferation. Mechanistically, TRIM71 formed a protein complex with IGF2BP1, bound to and stabilized the mRNA of CEBPA in an m6A-dependent manner, enhance the serine/glycine metabolic pathway, and ultimately promoted liver cancer progression. Furthermore, we identified that all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) combined with e1A binding protein p300 (EP300) inhibitor A-485 repressed TRIM71, attenuated glycine/serine metabolism, and inhibited liver cancer cell proliferation with high TRIM71 levels. Conclusions: We demonstrated the oncofetal status in liver cancer and highlighted the crucial role of TRIM71 and provided potential therapeutic strategies and liver cancer-specific biomarker for liver cancer patients.