MRP3 as a novel resistance factor for sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma

The mechanism of resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to sorafenib is unknown and no useful predictive biomarker for sorafenib treatment has been reported. Accordingly, we established sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and investigated the underlying mechanism of resistance to sorafenib. Sorafenib-resistant cell lines were established from the HCC cell line PLC/PRF5 by cultivation under continuous exposure to increasing concentration of sorafenib. The IC50 values of the 2 resistant clones PLC/PRF5-R1 and PLC-PRF5-R2 were 9.2±0.47 μM (1.8-fold) and 25±5.1 μM (4.6-fold) respectively, which were significantly higher than that of parental PLC/PRF5 cells (5.4±0.17 μM) (p<0.01 respectively), as determined by MTT assay. Western blot analysis of signal transduction-related proteins showed no significant differences in expression of AKT/pAKT, mTOR/pmTOR, or ERK/pERK between the 2 resistant clones versus parent cells, suggesting no activation of an alternative signal transduction pathway. Likewise, when expression of membrane transporter proteins was determined, there were no significant differences in expression levels of BSEP, MDR1, MRP2, BCRP, MRP4 and OCT1 between resistant clones and parent cells. However, the expression levels of MRP3 in the 2 resistant clones were significantly higher than that of parent cells. When MRP3 gene was knocked down by siRNA in PLC-PRF5-R2 cells, the sensitivity of the cells to sorafenib was restored. In the analysis of gene mutation, there was no mutation in the activation segment of Raf1 kinase in the resistant clones. Our data clearly demonstrate that the efflux transporter MRP3 plays an important role in resistance to sorafenib in HCC cells

Downregulation of microRNA-100/microRNA-125b

A majority of early colorectal cancers (CRCs) with submucosal invasion undergo surgical operation, despite a very low incidence of lymph node metastasis. Our study aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) specifically responsible for lymph node metastasis in submucosal CRCs. MicroRNA microarray analysis revealed that miR-100 and miR-125b expression levels were significantly lower in CRC tissues with lymph node metastases than in those without metastases. These results were validated by quantitative real-time PCR in a larger set of clinical samples. The transfection of a miR-100 or miR-125b inhibitor into colon cancer HCT116 cells significantly increased cell invasion, migration, and MMP activity. Conversely, overexpression of miR-100 or miR-125b mimics significantly attenuated all these activities but did not affect cell growth. To identify target mRNAs, we undertook a gene expression array analysis of miR-100-silenced HCT116 cells as well as negative control cells. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, TargetScan software analyses, and subsequent verification of mRNA expression by real-time PCR identified mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) as direct, and Fas and X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (XIAP) as indirect candidate targets for miR-100 involved in lymph node metastasis. Knockdown of each gene by siRNA significantly reduced the invasiveness of HCT116 cells. These data clearly show that downregulation of miR-100 and miR-125b is closely associated with lymph node metastasis in submucosal CRC through enhancement of invasion, motility, and MMP activity. In particular, miR-100 may promote metastasis by upregulating mTOR, IGF1R, Fas, and XIAP as targets. Thus, miR-100 and miR-125b may be novel biomarkers for lymph node metastasis of early CRCs with submucosal invasion

Identification of Sialylated Glycoproteins in Doxorubicin-Treated Hepatoma Cells with Glycoproteomic Analyses

Sialylation is one of the most important types of glycosylation involved in carcinogenesis and establishment of cancer stemness. We previously showed that increased sialylation is a characteristic glycan change in cancer stem cells (CSCs) from hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the identities of glycoproteins targeted for sialylation remain unknown. In the present study, we identified glycoproteins targeted for sialylation in doxorubicin (DXR)-treated hepatocarcinoma cell line, Huh7, using glycoproteomic analyses. Since CSCs constitute a small subset of cells within carcinoma cell lines, it is difficult to identify sialylated proteins using general glycoproteomic strategies. It is known that treatment with anticancer drug can condense CSCs, we used DXR to concentrate CSCs. In DXR-treated Huh7 cells, isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis identified 17 sialylated glycoproteins. Most of the identified glycoproteins were cancer-associated proteins. Furthermore, two proteins of approximately 70 kDa were detected using <i>Sambucus sieboldoana</i> agglutinin (SSA) blot analysis and identified as beta-galactosidase and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (fetuin-A) by SSA precipitation followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Sialylation levels of fetuin-A were increased in DXR-treated Huh7 cell lysates. These changes in sialylation of glycoproteins might be involved in the establishment of cancer stemness

Identification of Sialylated Glycoproteins in Doxorubicin-Treated Hepatoma Cells with Glycoproteomic Analyses

Sialylation is one of the most important types of glycosylation involved in carcinogenesis and establishment of cancer stemness. We previously showed that increased sialylation is a characteristic glycan change in cancer stem cells (CSCs) from hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the identities of glycoproteins targeted for sialylation remain unknown. In the present study, we identified glycoproteins targeted for sialylation in doxorubicin (DXR)-treated hepatocarcinoma cell line, Huh7, using glycoproteomic analyses. Since CSCs constitute a small subset of cells within carcinoma cell lines, it is difficult to identify sialylated proteins using general glycoproteomic strategies. It is known that treatment with anticancer drug can condense CSCs, we used DXR to concentrate CSCs. In DXR-treated Huh7 cells, isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis identified 17 sialylated glycoproteins. Most of the identified glycoproteins were cancer-associated proteins. Furthermore, two proteins of approximately 70 kDa were detected using <i>Sambucus sieboldoana</i> agglutinin (SSA) blot analysis and identified as beta-galactosidase and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (fetuin-A) by SSA precipitation followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Sialylation levels of fetuin-A were increased in DXR-treated Huh7 cell lysates. These changes in sialylation of glycoproteins might be involved in the establishment of cancer stemness