c-Met activation promotes extravasation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells into 3D-cultured hepatocyte cells in lab-on-a-chip device.

Activation of c-Met signaling is associated with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its contribution to organ preference in metastasis remains unclear. In this study, using a Lab on a Chip device, we defined the role of aberrant c-Met activation in regulating the extravasation and homing capacity of HCC cells. Our studies showed that (i) c-Met overexpression and activation direct HCC cells preferentially towards the hepatocytes-enriched microenvironment, and (ii) blockage of c-Met phosphorylation by a small molecule inhibitor attenuated extravasation and homing capacity of HCC cells. These results, thus, demonstrate the role of c-Met signaling in regulating the colonization of HCC cells preferentially in the liver.

Evaluation of ATAD2 as a Potential Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide with lack of effective systemic chemotherapy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the value of ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 2 (ATAD2) as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HCC. METHODS: The expression of ATAD2 was tested in different HCC patient cohorts by immunohistochemistry and comparative transcriptional analysis. The co-expression of ATAD2 and proliferation markers was compared during liver regeneration and malignancy with different bioinformatics tools. The cellular effects of ATAD2 inactivation in liver malignancy was tested on cell cycle, apoptosis, and colony formation ability as well as tumor formation using RNA interference. The genes affected by ATAD2 inactivation in three different HCC cell lines were identified by global gene expression profiling and bioinformatics tools. RESULTS: ATAD2 overexpression is closely correlated with HCC tumor stage. There was gradual increase from dysplasia, well-differentiated and poorly-differentiated HCC, respectively. We also observed transient upregulation of ATAD2 expression during rat liver regeneration in parallel to changes in Ki-67 expression. ATAD2 knockdown resulted in apoptosis and decreased cell survival in vitro and decreased tumor formation in some HCC cell lines. However, three other HCC cell lines tested were not affected. Similarly, gene expression response to ATAD2 inactivation in different HCC cell lines was highly heterogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: ATAD2 is a potential proliferation marker for liver regeneration and HCC. It may also serve as a therapeutic target despite heterogeneous response of malignant cells.

High glucose induced c-Met activation promotes aggressive phenotype and regulates expression of glucose metabolism genes in HCC cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is strongly associated with metabolic dysregulations/deregulations and hyperglycemia is a common metabolic disturbance in metabolic diseases. Hyperglycemia is defined to promote epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells in various cancers but its molecular contribution to HCC progression and aggressiveness is relatively unclear. In this study, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms behind the hyperglycemia-induced EMT in HCC cell lines. Here, we report that high glucose promotes EMT through activating c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase via promoting its ligand-independent homodimerization. c-Met activation is critical for high glucose induced acquisition of mesenchymal phenotype, survival under high glucose stress and reprogramming of cellular metabolism by modulating glucose metabolism gene expression to promote aggressiveness in HCC cells. The crucial role of c-Met in high glucose induced EMT and aggressiveness may be the potential link between metabolic syndrome-related hepatocarcinogenesis and/or HCC progression. Considering c-Met inhibition in hyperglycemic patients would be an important complementary strategy for therapy that favors sensitization of HCC cells to therapeutics.

lncRNA HOTAIR overexpression induced downregulation of c-Met signaling promotes hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) are both reversible processes, and regulation of phenotypical transition is very important for progression of several cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, it is defined that cancer cells can attain a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (hybrid E/M) phenotype. Cells with hybrid E/M phenotype comprise mixed epithelial and mesenchymal properties, they can be more resistant to therapeutics and also more capable of initiating metastatic lesions. However, the mechanisms regulating hybrid E/M in HCC are not well described yet. In this study, we investigated the role of the potential crosstalk between lncRNA HOTAIR and c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, which are two essential regulators of EMT and MET, in acquiring of hybrid E/M phenotype in HCC. METHODS: Expression of c-Met and lncRNA HOTAIR were defined in HCC cell lines and patient tissues through HCC progression. lncRNA HOTAIR was overexpressed in SNU-449 cells and its effects on c-Met signaling were analyzed. c-Met was overexpressed in SNU-398 cells and its effect on HOTAIR expression was analyzed. Biological significance of HOTAIR/c-Met interplay was defined in means of adhesion, proliferation, motility behavior, invasion, spheroid formation and metastatic ability. Effect of ectopic lncRNA HOTAIR expression on phenotype was defined with investigation of molecular epithelial and mesenchymal traits. RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo experiments verified the pivotal role of lncRNA HOTAIR in acquisition of hybrid E/M phenotype through modulating expression and activation of c-Met and its membrane co-localizing partner Caveolin-1, and membrane organization to cope with the rate limiting steps of metastasis such as survival in adhesion independent microenvironment, escaping from anoikis and resisting to fluidic shear stress (FSS) in HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our work provides the first evidence suggesting a role for lncRNA HOTAIR in the modulation of c-Met to promote hybrid E/M phenotype. The balance between lncRNA HOTAIR and c-Met might be critical for cell fate decision and metastatic potential of HCC cells. Video Abstract.

Pleiotropic Effects of Heparins: From Clinical Applications to Molecular Mechanisms in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide and most cases are incurable because of late presentation. It is the most common primary neoplasm of the liver and often arises in the context of a chronic liver disease that impairs coagulation. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of HCC that is associated with a poor prognosis. Heparin derivatives are widely used in the management of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Among them low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) favorably influences the survival in patients with advanced cancer, including HCC. Due to their pleiotropic function, heparins affect tumorigenesis in many ways and may promote or hamper tumorigenic transformation depending on the cancer type and cancer stage along with their structural properties and concentration. Thus, their application as an antithrombotic along with the conventional therapy regime should be carefully planned to develop the best management strategies. In this review, we first will briefly review clinical applications of heparin derivatives in the management of cancer with a particular focus on HCC. We then summarize the state of knowledge whereby heparin can crosstalk with molecules playing a role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Lastly, we highlight new experimental and clinical research conducted with the aim of moving towards personalized therapy in cancer patients at risk of thromboembolism.

Thioredoxin interacting protein promotes invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Considerable evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays an essential role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While acquired resistance to oxidative stress is the main driver of aggressive cell phenotype, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that elevated expression of Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a main regulator of the aggressive phenotype in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To test this hypothesis, we measured TXNIP expression levels in 11 HCC cell lines by qPCR and western blotting. In addition, 80 pairs of HCC tissues and matched liver tissues of 73 cases, as well as 11 normal liver tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemistry. Besides, TXNIP expression levels were analyzed by Oncomine Platform in seven independent microarray datasets. Finally, the functional role of TXNIP in HCC was investigated in vitro and in vivo by silencing and overexpression studies. RESULTS: Our results show that TXNIP expression is significantly increased in HCC compared to non-tumor counterparts (p < 0.0001) as well as to normal (p < 0.0001) and cirrhotic (p < 0.0001) liver tissues. Moreover, stable overexpression of TXNIP in HCC cells (i) significantly increases ROS levels, (ii) induces EMT phenotype, (iii) increases motility, invasion and 3D branching tubulogenesis, (iv) decreases apoptosis, and (v) elevates in vivo metastasis in zebrafish embryos. Finally, we identify sinusoidal/stromal and cytoplasmic TXNIP staining patterns as risk factors for intrahepatic vascular invasion (p:0.0400). CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that overexpression of TXNIP has a pivotal role in HCC progression by inducing cell survival, invasion, and metastasis.

Role of Albumin in Growth Inhibition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Levels of serum albumin have recently emerged, together with C-reactive protein, as an important prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has recently been reported that larger HCCs are associated with lower albumin levels. However, the albumin-mediated growth decrease has yet to be determined. METHODS: We examined a large HCC cohort and then by direct exposure of HCC cells in vitro, the relationship of albumin levels to HCC growth. RESULTS: We found that patients with lower albumin levels had significantly larger maximum tumor diameters, more portal vein thrombosis, more tumor multifocality, higher α-fetoprotein levels, and a lower survival than patients with higher albumin levels. Direct addition of exogenous albumin at physiological concentrations resulted in decreased growth in several HCC cell lines in vitro. We found a decrease in MAP kinase levels and in levels of Cdk2 and Cdk4, cyclinE, as well as in α-fetoprotein. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in addition to its role as a monitor of systemic inflammation, albumin may have a direct role in HCC growth inhibition, either through modulation of α-fetoprotein or through its actions on growth-controlling kinases.