Frizzled 2-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition correlates with vasculogenic mimicry, stemness, and Hippo signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Prior observation has indicated that Frizzled 2 (FZD2)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) could be a key step in metastasis and early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism underlying tumor development and progression due to aberrant FZD2 expression is poorly defined. Here, we provide evidence that FZD2 is a driver for EMT, cancer stem cell properties, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in HCC. We found that FZD2 was highly expressed in two cohorts of Chinese hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients, and that high FZD2 expression was associated with poor prognosis. Concerning the mechanism, gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed the oncogenic action of FZD2 in HCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Further investigations in vi

SUBMITTER: Ou H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6447835 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature