Single-cell RNA sequencing of immune landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sintilimab and sorafenib
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE215428 | GEO | 2022/10/17
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Background & Aims: Existing drug therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including sorafenib, extend patient survival by only three months. We sought to identify novel druggable targets for use in combination with sorafenib to increase its efficacy. Methods: We implemented an in vivo genetic screening paradigm utilizing a library of 43 genes-of-interest expressed in the context of repopulation of the injured livers of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase-deficient (Fah-/-) mice, which led to highly penetrant HCC. We treated mice with vehicle or sorafenib, then determined the genetic drivers of each tumor from the library. Liver X Receptor alpha (LXRalpha) emerged as a potential target. To examine LXRalpha agonism in combination with sorafenib treatment, we added varying concentrations of sorafenib and LXRalpha agonist drugs to HCC cell lines. To elucidate the mechanism of tumor death, we performed transcriptomic analysis. Results: Fah-/- mice injected with the screening library developed HCC tumor clones containing Myc cDNA plus various other cDNAs. Treatment with sorafenib resulted in sorafenib-resistant HCCs that were significantly depleted in Nr1h3 cDNA, encoding LXRalpha, suggesting that LXRalpha activation is incompatible with tumor growth in the presence of sorafenib treatment in vivo. Combination treatment using sorafenib and LXR agonist drugs in multiple HCC cell lines led to enhanced cell death as compared to monotherapy, due to reduced expression of cell cycle regulators and increased expression of genes associated with apoptosis. Combination therapy also enhanced cell death in a sorafenib-resistant primary human HCC cell line. Conclusions: We have completed a novel drug resistance screen in vivo, and identified that LXR agonism potentiates the efficacy of sorafenib in treating HCC.
2020-05-29 | GSE151412 | GEO
Project description:Sorafenib is currently the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation, play a decisive role in the development and progression of HCC. To our knowledge, there are no studies that have analyzed the global DNA methylation changes in HCC cells treated with sorafenib. Using MeDip-chip technologies we analyzed sorafenib effects on the methylome of human HCC cells. We found 1230 differentially methylated genes in HA22T/VGH cells treated with sorafenib compared to untreated cells. Gene ontology and pathway analysis found enriched several GO terms related to transcription factors and different pathways involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Among the genes differentially methylated we found genes related to apoptosis (FOXO3, SMAD2, p21), angiogenesis (EPAS1) and invasion (MMP3, MMP7, RAC1, RHOC), genes belonged to pathways deregulated in HCC such as RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK3, MAP2K2), JNK (MAPK8, MAP2K7), JAK-STAT (JAK1, STAT3, STAT5, CCND3), PI3K/AKT/mTOR (TSC2, PRKCZ) and NF-κB (IKBKG, MALT1, MAP3K14) and cancer-associated non-coding genes such as MALAT1, miR-149 and miR-675. We found a general trend where oncogenes were hypermethylated and tumor suppressor genes were hypomethylated after sorafenib treatment. Finally, we validated MeDip-chip results on several differentially methylated genes using COBRA and direct bisulfite sequencing and for these genes we evaluated the relationship between methylation level and mRNA expression.Our results suggest that in HCC cells sorafenib could affect the methylation level of genes associated to cancer-related processes and pathways related to sorafenib mechanism of action. These results identified novel sorafenib targets genes which could be targets in a new design of multi-target and combined therapies, and to better understand the emergence of resistance in HCC.
2017-06-30 | GSE72257 | GEO
Project description:Sorafenib is a first-line chemotherapy drug for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its therapeutic effect has been seriously affected by the emergence of sorafenib resistance in HCC patients. The underlying mechanism of sorafenib resistance is unclear. Here, we report a circular RNA, cDCBLD2, which plays an important role in sorafenib resistance in HCC. We found that cDCBLD2 was upregulated in sorafenib-resistant (SR) HCC cells, and knocking down cDCBLD2 expression could significantly increase sorafenib-related cytotoxicity. Further evidence showed that cDCBLD2 can bind to microRNA (miR)-345-5p through a competing endogenous RNA mechanism, increase type IIA topoisomerase (TOP2A) mRNA stability through a miRNA sponge mechanism, and reduce the effects of sorafenib treatment on HCC by inhibiting apoptosis. Our findings also suggest that miR-345-5p can negatively regulate TOP2A levels by binding to the coding sequence region of its mRNA. Additionally, targeting cDCBLD2 by injecting a specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) could significantly overcome sorafenib resistance in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model of HCC. Taken together, our study provides a proof-of-concept for a potential strategy to overcome sorafenib resistance in HCC patients by targeting cDCBLD2 or TOP2A.
2023-12-11 | GSE240109 | GEO
Project description:Understanding the mechanisms underlying evasive resistance in cancer is an unmet medical need to improve the efficacy of current therapies. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), aberrant expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 a (HIF1a) and increased aerobic glycolysis metabolism represent drivers of the development of resistance to therapy with the multi-kinase inhibitor Sorafenib. However, it has remained unknown how HIF1a is activated and how its activity and the subsequent induction of aerobic glycolysis promotes Sorafenib resistance in HCC. Here, we report the ubiquitin-specific peptidase USP29 as a new regulator of HIF1a and of aerobic glycolysis during the development of Sorafenib resistance in HCC. In particular, we have identified USP29 as a critical deubiquitylase (DUB) of HIF1a, which directly deubiquitinates and stabilizes HIF1a and, thus, promotes its transcriptional activity. Among the transcriptional targets of HIF1a is the gene encoding for hexokinase 2 (HK2), a key enzyme of the glycolytic pathway. The absence of USP29, and thus of HIF1a transcriptional activity, reduces the levels of aerobic glycolysis and reinstalls the sensitivity to Sorafenib treatment in Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells in vitro and in xenograft transplantation mouse models in vivo. Notably, the absence of USP29 and high HK2 expression levels correlate with the response of HCC patients to Sorafenib therapy. Together, the data demonstrate that, as a DUB of HIF1a, USP29 promotes Sorafenib resistance in HCC cells by upregulating glycolysis, thereby opening new avenues for therapeutically targeting Sorafenib-resistant HCC in patients.
2021-07-27 | GSE158458 | GEO
Project description:Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated, non-apoptotic cell death characterized by excessive lipid peroxidation upon loss of activity of the lipid repair enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Sorafenib, an FDA-approved multi-kinase inhibitor drug for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has been shown to induce ferroptosis. Protein phosphorylation changes upon Sorafenib treatment have been previously reported in patient studies and in cell culture however the early phosphorylation changes during induction of ferroptosis are not completely understood. This work highlights these changes through a time course from 7 to 60 min of Sorafenib treatment in SKHep1 cells to provide insight on the induction of ferroptosis. 6,186 unique phosphosites were quantified from 2,381 phosphoproteins in this study and phosphorylation changes occurred in as early as 30 minutes of Sorafenib treatment. By 60 minutes, significant changes in key regulatory pathways were identified, including sites from ferroptosis-related proteins, indicating the involvement of phospho-regulated signaling during ferroptosis induction.
2019-07-26 | MSV000084140 | MassIVE
Project description:Sorafenib, a multiple-kinase inhibitor, has been widely used as a first-line anticancer drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the development of drug resistance to sorafenib is frequently observed in clinical applications. Potential non-kinase targets of sorafenib have not been well documented and may provide insights into reversing drug resistance. Herein, we report that sorafenib exerted its anticancer effects by activating metallothionein 1G (MT1G) expression. MT1G served as a novel marker in HCC and correlated well with patient survival. MT1G overexpression suppressed the cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation of HCC, and sensitized cells to sorafenib treatment. However, the disruption of MT1G attenuated sorafenib’s anticancer effects. Mechanistically, sorafenib upregulated MT1G expression via hypomethylation of its promoter region by binding and inhibiting DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and increasing its promoter accessibility in HCC cells. The activation of MT1G also inhibited CA9 transcription through the degradation of HIF1a as mediated by KLF4. Our collective data revealed that sorafenib exerted its anticancer effects through epigenetic regulation of the DNMT1/MT1G/KLF4/CA9 axis in HCC, and that the activation of MT1G might constitute a strategy for reversing sorafenib resistance.
2022-04-30 | GSE192771 | GEO
Project description:OBJECTIVE: Sorafenib is effective in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but patients ultimately present disease progression. Molecular mechanisms underlying acquired resistance are still unknown. Herein, we characterize the role of tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) and signaling pathways involved in sorafenib resistance. DESIGN: HCC xenograft mice treated with sorafenib (n=22) were explored for responsiveness (n=5) and acquired resistance (n=17). Mechanism of acquired resistance were assessed by: 1) Role of T-ICs by in vitro sphere formation and in vivo tumorigenesis assays using NOD/SCID mice, 2) Activation of alternative signaling pathways and 3) Efficacy of anti-FGF and anti-IGF drugs in experimental models. Gene expression (microarray, qRT-PCR) and protein analyses (immunohistochemistry, western blot) were conducted. A novel gene signature of sorafenib resistance was generated and tested in 2 independent cohorts. RESULTS: Sorafenib-acquired resistance tumors showed significant enrichment of T-ICs (164 cells needed to create a tumor) vs. sorafenib-sensitive tumors (13400 cells) and non-treated tumors (1292 cells), p<0.001. Tumors with sorafenib-acquired resistance were enriched with IGF and FGF signaling cascades (FDR<0.05). In vitro, cells derived from sorafenib-acquired resistant tumors and two sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines were responsive to IGF or FGF inhibition. In vivo, FGF blockade delayed tumor growth and improved survival in sorafenib-resistant tumors. A sorafenib-resistance 175-gene signature was characterized by enrichment of progenitor-cell features, aggressive tumoral traits and predicted poor survival in 2 cohorts (n=442 HCC patients). CONCLUSION: Acquired resistance to sorafenib is driven by tumor initiating cells with enrichment of progenitor markers and activation of IGF and FGF signaling. Inhibition of these pathways would benefit a subset of patients after sorafenib progression. Transcriptomic profile of subcutaneous Huh7 cells-derived tumors treated with sorafenib that developed acquired resistance to the drug (n=4), remain responsive to sorafenib (n=3) or were treated with brivanib after development of resistance (n=3). Gene profiling of hepatospheres generated from tumors with acquired resistance to sorafenib (n=3) and non-treated tumors (n=3) was also analyzed.
2016-06-16 | E-GEOD-73571 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Abstract: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the induction of chemo-resistance. The objectives of this study were to clarify the mechanism underlying CAF-mediated sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance and identify a novel therapeutic target to overcome resistance to sorafenib/lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) data of nine pairs of CAFs and para-cancer-associated fibroblasts (PAFs) were analyzed to identify key molecules that induce resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to validate selected targets and related mechanisms. Plasma secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) expression levels prior to sorafenib/lenvatinib treatment as well as progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of an advanced HCC cohort (n=42) were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: Co-culturing CAFs and HCC cells significantly reduced the responsiveness of HCC cells to sorafenib/lenvatinib, in vitro and in vivo. Systematic integrative analysis of the WTS data of CAFs/PAFs and publicly available gene expression data indicated that CAF-derived SPP1 (CAF-SPP1) was suitable for use as a candidate molecule to induce sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance. An evaluation of the mechanisms involved indicated that CAF-SPP1 increased phosphorylation of PKCɑ, which then activated rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF)-extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosophoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT-mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) in HCC cells. SPP1 inhibitors reversed CAF-induced sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance in vitro and in vivo. Patients showing high plasma SPP1 prior to sorafenib/lenvatinib treatment exhibited significantly poor PFS (P=0.005) and OS (P=0.041). Conclusions: CAF-SPP1 enhances sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance in HCC by alternatively activating oncogenic pathways via PKCɑ phosphorylation. Inhibition of CAF-SPP1 may be utilized as a therapeutic strategy against TKI resistance in HCC. Plasma SPP1 level prior to TKI treatment shows potential as a promising biomarker for predicting sorafenib/lenvatinib response in advanced HCC patients.
2022-12-24 | GSE192912 | GEO
Project description:Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly gaining importance and attention due to their diverse potential functions. Our study aims to explore the novel mechanisms by which exosome-contained circRNAs promote sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we report that a circular RNA, circRNA-MANBA (a circular RNA upregulated in exosomes derived from sorafenib-resistant HCC cells), plays a significant role in sorafenib resistance in HCC. We identified that circRNA-MANBA is increased in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, their exosomes, and tumor samples from sorafenib-treated HCC patients. Depletion of circRNA-MANBA substantially increases the cell-killing ability of sorafenib. Co-culture experiments revealed that exosomes from sorafenib-resistant HCC cells carrying large amounts of circRNA-MANBA could transmit drug resistant capacity to parental cells. Further studies revealed that circRNA-MANBA acted as ‘miRNAs sponge’ to absorb miR-1290, which prevented miR-1290 interaction with CD109 and thus upregulated STAT3 phosphorylation subsequently. Using different HCC mouse models, we demonstrated that silencing circRNA-MANBA by injection of siRNA could substantially overcome sorafenib resistance. Our study provides a proof-of-concept demonstration for a potential strategy to overcome sorafenib resistance in HCC patients by targeting circRNA-MANBA.
2023-11-07 | GSE213242 | GEO
Project description:sorafenib is the treatment of reference for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We applied sorafenib on the human HCC cell line Huh7 and the subclone shRb, carrying a stable knock-down of the expression of the RB1 gene, a key regulator of liver carcinogenesis. Our aim was to better understand the physiologic and metabolic consequences of the exposure of HCC cells to sorafenib. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression at an early time point (9h) after exposure to sorafenib Whole-genome microarrays were used to study the transcriptome of Huh7 cells exposed to Sorafenib
2016-06-30 | E-GEOD-75620 | biostudies-arrayexpress