scholarly journals Key Enzymes in Pyrimidine Synthesis, CAD and CPS1, Predict Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 744
Author(s):  
Dirk Andreas Ridder ◽  
Mario Schindeldecker ◽  
Arndt Weinmann ◽  
Kristina Berndt ◽  
Lana Urbansky ◽  
...  

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a highly variable clinical course. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new prognostic markers to determine prognosis and select specific therapies. Recently, it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of the urea cycle (UC) is a common phenomenon in multiple types of cancer. Upon UC dysregulation, nitrogen is diverted toward the multifunctional enzyme carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamoylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD), and increases pyrimidine synthesis. In this study, we investigated the role of CAD and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), a rate-limiting enzyme of the UC highly expressed in hepatocytes, in HCC. We created a tissue microarray to analyze expression of both enzymes by immunohistochemistry in a large and well-characterized overall cohort of 871 HCCs of 561 patients that underwent surgery. CAD was induced in recurrent HCCs, and high expression predicted shorter overall survival. CPS1 was downregulated in HCC and further reduced in recurrent tumors and distant metastases. Additionally, low CPS1 was associated with short overall survival. A combined score of both enzymes was an independent prognostic marker in a multivariate Cox regression model (HR = 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.06–1.75, p = 0.014). Inhibition of pyrimidine synthesis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 325-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Lin Chen ◽  
Chee-Yin Chai ◽  
Kun-Tu Yeh ◽  
Shen-Nien Wang ◽  
Chia-Jung Tsai ◽  
...  

C-Src activity is regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation at two distinct sites, Tyr416 and Tyr527, with opposite effects. However, the clinical roles of these sites in human cancers are not well defined. This study aims to determine whether the alterations and crosstalk of these two sites may contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Specimens from 85 patients who had undergone curative hepatectomy were collected for this study. The patterns of p-Tyr416-Src and p-Tyr527-Src, as well as the non-phosphorylated status for each site, were determined using immunohistochemistry and statistically correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival rate. The active state of c-Src, p-Tyr416-c-Src, was positively correlated with tumour grade (P= 0.062) but inversely correlated with vascular invasion (P= 0.071). Its non-phosphorylated status, non-p-Tyr416-c-Src, was positively correlated with tumour stage and grade (P= 0.041 and 0.020). The inactive state of c-Src, p-Tyr527-c-Src, was decreased in male patients but increased HCV-infected patients (P= 0.044 and 0.033). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve further showed that increased p-Tyr416-c-Src and decreased non-p-Tyr527-c-Src expression were associated with a poor patient survival rate (P= 0.004 and 0.025). Interestingly, the expression of non-p-Tyr416-c-Src was positively correlated with that of p-Tyr527-c-Src in the HCC lesions (P= 0.040). In addition, the patients with concomitantly low p-Tyr416-c-Src and non-p-Tyr527-c-Src expression had a prolonged overall survival rate (P= 0.030). A multivariable COX regression model showed that p-Tyr416-c-Src expression was an effective predictor for patient survival in HCC [OR = 3.78, 95%CI = 1.46–9.76;P= 0.006]. Our results suggest that the active state of c-Src, p-Tyr416-c-Src, may serve as an independent prognostic marker of patient survival in HCC. Relative levels of other phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated c-Src kinases may also present different statuses during HCC development and require further investigation.


Cancers ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 430
Author(s):  
Dirk Andreas Ridder ◽  
Lana Louisa Urbansky ◽  
Hagen Roland Witzel ◽  
Mario Schindeldecker ◽  
Arndt Weinmann ◽  
...  

Although knowledge on inflammatory signaling pathways driving cancer initiation and progression has been increasing, molecular mechanisms in hepatocarcinogenesis are still far from being completely understood. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of the MAPKKK Tak1 in mice recapitulates important steps of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, including the occurrence of cell death, steatohepatitis, dysplastic nodules, and HCCs. However, overactivation of Tak1 in mice upon deletion of its deubiquitinase Cyld also results in steatohepatitis and HCC development. To investigate Tak1 and Cyld in human HCCs, we created a tissue microarray to analyze their expression by immunohistochemistry in a large and well-characterized cohort of 871 HCCs of 561 patients. In the human liver and HCC, Tak1 is predominantly present as its isoform Tak1A and predominantly localizes to cell nuclei. Tak1 is upregulated in diethylnitrosamine-induced mouse HCCs as well as in human HCCs independent of etiology and is further induced in distant metastases. A high nuclear Tak1 expression is associated with short survival and vascular invasion. When we overexpressed Tak1A in Huh7 cells, we observed increased tumor cell migration, whereas overexpression of full-length Tak1 had no significant effect. A combined score of low Cyld and high Tak1 expression was an independent prognostic marker in a multivariate Cox regression model.


Author(s):  
Li Zhao ◽  
Qian Yang ◽  
Jianbo Liu

Abstract Background Patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to evaluate the expression of microRNA-324-3p (miR-324-3p) in HBV-related HCC, and explore the clinical significance of serum miR-324-3p and other available biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of HBV-related HCC. Methods Expression of miR-324-3p in HBV-infection-related cells and patients was estimated using quantitative real-time PCR. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum miR-324-3p, AFP and PIVKA-II in the differentiation of HBV-related HCC from healthy controls and chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The relationship between serum miR-324-3p and patients’ clinical features was assessed using Chi-square test, and the value of miR-324-3p to predict overall survival prognosis was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression assay in patients with HBV-related HCC. Results HBV-related HCC cells had significantly increased miR-324-3p compared with normal and HBV-unrelated HCC cells, and serum miR-324-3p in HCC patients with HBV infection was also higher than that in healthy controls and CHB. Serum miR-324-3p had relatively high diagnostic accuracy for the screening of HCC case with HBV infection, and the combination of miR-324-3p, AFP and PIVKA-II showed the improved diagnostic performance. Additionally, high serum miR-324-2p in HBV-related HCC patients was associated with cirrhosis, tumor size, clinical stage and poor overall survival prognosis. Conclusion Serum increased miR-324-3p may be involved in the progression of HBV-related hepatitis to HCC, and may serve as a candidate biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HBV-related HCC.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (2) ◽  
pp. G344-G351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Béatrice Mouillé ◽  
Véronique Robert ◽  
François Blachier

Chronic high-protein consumption leads to increased concentrations of NH4+/NH3 in the colon lumen. We asked whether this increase has consequences on colonic epithelial cell metabolism. Rats were fed isocaloric diets containing 20 (P20) or 58% (P58) casein as the protein source for 7 days. NH4+/NH3 concentration in the colonic lumen and in the colonic vein blood as well as ammonia metabolism by isolated surface colonic epithelial cells was determined. After 2 days of consumption of the P58 diet, marked increases of luminal and colonic vein blood NH4+/NH3 concentrations were recorded when compared with the values obtained in the P20 group. Colonocytes recovered from the P58 group were characterized at that time and thereafter by an increased capacity for l-ornithine and urea production through arginase ( P < 0.05). l-Ornithine was mostly used in the presence of NH4Cl for the synthesis of the metabolic end product l-citrulline. After 7 days of the P58 diet consumption, however, the ammonia metabolism into l-citrulline was found lower ( P < 0.01) when compared with the values measured in the colonocytes recovered from the P20 group despite any decrease in the related enzymatic activities (i.e., carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I and ornithine carbamoyl transferase). This decrease was found to coincide with a return of blood NH4+/NH3 concentration in colonic portal blood to values close to the one recorded in the P20 group. In response to increased NH4+/NH3 concentration in the colon, the increased capacity of the colonocytes to synthesize l-ornithine is likely to correspond to an elevated l-ornithine requirement for the elimination of excessive blood ammonia in the liver urea cycle. Moreover, in the presence of NH4Cl, colonocytes diminished their synthesis capacity of l-citrulline from l-ornithine, allowing a lower cellular utilization of this latter amino acid. These results are discussed in relationship with an adaptative process that would be related to both interorgan metabolism and to the role of the colonic epithelium as a first line of defense toward luminal NH4+/NH3 concentrations.


Author(s):  
Heng Cao ◽  
Peng Guo ◽  
Xiaohui Wu ◽  
Jiankun Li ◽  
Chenlong Ge ◽  
...  

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of digestive tract in the world. Therefore, it is important to carry out studies on the molecular mechanisms of early diagnosis and treatment of HCC to reduce mortality. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was performed to explore the significant role of GCSF on the occurrence and development of neoplasm. Differently expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, and the significant hub genes related with GCSF were identified by the multiple algorithms of Cytoscape. Functional annotation for DEGs, pathological stage and overall survival analysis were implemented. In addition, the verification for the role of GCSF on HCC was made via the clinical samples. A total of 70 participates diagnosed as HCC were recruited from November 2014 to November 2019. The immunohistochemistry assay, qRT-PCR, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and overall survival analysis were carried out. Results: GCSF was related with the tumor size, and the expression of GCSF was up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. The enrichment results of GO and KEGG analysis were mainly enriched in “Inflammatory response”, “Protein binding”, “Metabolic pathways”, and “Proteasome”. The tumor diameter (P < 0.001), and survival time (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with expression of GCSF via the verification of clinical data. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis manifested that high expression of GCSF in patients with HCC was related to poor OS. Conclusion: The expression level of GCSF is significantly associated with the prognostic survival of HCC, and it is expected to become a new prognostic marker of HCC, providing a novel idea for future basic research as well as targeted therapy.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11273
Author(s):  
Lei Yang ◽  
Weilong Yin ◽  
Xuechen Liu ◽  
Fangcun Li ◽  
Li Ma ◽  
...  

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered to be a malignant tumor with a high incidence and a high mortality. Accurate prognostic models are urgently needed. The present study was aimed at screening the critical genes for prognosis of HCC. Methods The GSE25097, GSE14520, GSE36376 and GSE76427 datasets were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). We used GEO2R to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A protein-protein interaction network of the DEGs was constructed by Cytoscape in order to find hub genes by module analysis. The Metascape was performed to discover biological functions and pathway enrichment of DEGs. MCODE components were calculated to construct a module complex of DEGs. Then, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used for gene enrichment analysis. ONCOMINE was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of key genes in HCC, and the survival analysis was conducted using the array from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) of HCC. Then, the LASSO Cox regression model was performed to establish and identify the prognostic gene signature. We validated the prognostic value of the gene signature in the TCGA cohort. Results We screened out 10 hub genes which were all up-regulated in HCC tissue. They mainly enrich in mitotic cell cycle process. The GSEA results showed that these data sets had good enrichment score and significance in the cell cycle pathway. Each candidate gene may be an indicator of prognostic factors in the development of HCC. However, hub genes expression was weekly associated with overall survival in HCC patients. LASSO Cox regression analysis validated a five-gene signature (including CDC20, CCNB2, NCAPG, ASPM and NUSAP1). These results suggest that five-gene signature model may provide clues for clinical prognostic biomarker of HCC.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Min Hsieh ◽  
Hung-Yu Lin ◽  
Chao-Ming Hung ◽  
Gin-Ho Lo ◽  
I-Cheng Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The benefits of surgical resection (SR) for various Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. We investigated the risk factors of overall survival (OS) and survival benefits of SR over nonsurgical treatments in patients with HCC of various BCLC stages.Methods: Overall, 2316 HCC patients were included, and their clinicopathological data and OS were recorded. OS was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed.Results: In total, 66 (2.8%), 865 (37.4%), 575 (24.8%) and 870 (35.0%) patients had BCLC stage 0, A, B, and C disease, respectively. Furthermore, 1302 (56.2%) of all patients, and 37 (56.9%), 472 (54.6%), 313 (54.4%) and 480 (59.3%) of patients with BCLC stage 0, A, B, and C disease, respectively, died. The median follow-up duration time was 20 (range 0-96) months for the total cohort and was subdivided into 52 (8-96), 32 (1-96), 19 (0-84), and 12 (0-79) months for BCLC stages 0, A, B, and C cohorts, respectively. The risk factors for OS were 1) SR and cirrhosis; 2) SR, cirrhosis, and Child-Pugh (C-P) class; 3) SR, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and C-P class; and 4) SR, HBV infection, and C-P class for the BCLC stage 0, A, B, and C cohorts, respectively. Compared to non-SR treatment, SR resulted in significantly higher survival rates in all cohorts. The 5-year OS rates for SR vs non-SR were 44.0% vs 28.7%, 72.2% vs 42.6%, 42.6% vs 36.2, 44.6% vs 23.5%, and 41.4% vs 15.3% (all p-values<0.05) in the total and BCLC stage 0, A, B, and C cohorts, respectively. After PSM, SR resulted in significantly higher survival rates compared to non-SR treatment in various BCLC stages.Conclusion: SR conferred significant survival benefits to patients with HCC of various BCLC stages and should be considered a recommended treatment for select HCC patients, especially patients with BCLC stage B and C disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382110414
Author(s):  
Xiaoyong Li ◽  
Jiaqong Lin ◽  
Yuguo pan ◽  
Peng Cui ◽  
Jintang Xia

Background: Liver progenitor cells (LPCs) play significant roles in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no studies on the value of LPC-related genes for evaluating HCC prognosis exist. We developed a gene signature of LPC-related genes for prognostication in HCC. Methods: To identify LPC-related genes, we analyzed mRNA expression arrays from a dataset (GSE57812 & GSE 37071) containing LPCs, mature hepatocytes, and embryonic stem cell samples. HCC RNA-Seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to prognosis through DEG analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis. Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to construct the LPC-related gene prognostic model in the TCGA training dataset. This model was validated in the TCGA testing set and an external dataset (International Cancer Genome Consortium [ICGC] dataset). Finally, we investigated the relationship between this prognostic model with tumor-node-metastasis stage, tumor grade, and vascular invasion of HCC. Results: Overall, 1770 genes were identified as LPC-related genes, of which 92 genes were identified as DEGs in HCC tissues compared with normal tissues. Furthermore, we randomly assigned patients from the TCGA dataset to the training and testing cohorts. Twenty-six DEGs correlated with overall survival (OS) in the univariate Cox regression analysis. Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed in the TCGA training set, and a 3-gene signature was constructed to stratify patients into 2 risk groups: high-risk and low-risk. Patients in the high-risk group had significantly lower OS than those in the low-risk group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the signature's predictive capacity. Moreover, the risk score was confirmed to be an independent predictor for patients with HCC. Conclusion: We demonstrated that the LPC-related gene signature can be used for prognostication in HCC. Thus, targeting LPCs may serve as a therapeutic alternative for HCC.


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