Bilirubin inhibits the anticancer activity of sorafenib by blocking MCL-1 degradation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Sorafenib is a first-line drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, most patients with HCC do not respond to sorafenib, mainly because of the frequent development of drug resistance. Bilirubin is an end metabolite of heme catabolism and an indicator of liver function, but its direct role in regulating the anticancer activity of sorafenib in HCC cells is unclear. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of bilirubin in sorafenib-mediated tumor suppression in HCC.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort of 100 patients receiving sorafenib was conducted to evaluate the potential role of bilirubin in predicting the prognosis of patients with HCC. Human HCC cell lines were treated with sorafenib in the absence or

SUBMITTER: Yao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9334754 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature