Astrocyte elevated gene-1 is a novel biomarker of epithelial–mesenchymal transition and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in two China regions

Abstract

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is involved in important biological processes including cell invasion, metastasis, and carcinogenesis. However, its clinical significance has remained largely unknown in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, specimens from 144 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas in Beijing and Heilongjiang regions were investigated by immunohistochemical staining for AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin expressions. A clinicopathological study revealed that AEG-1 expression level in tumor cells was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P = 0.001) and Edmonson grade (P < 0.0001). In addition, AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin (epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarker) expressions were correlated with each other. These findings suggest that AEG-1 may be an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated biomarker in human hepatocellular carcinoma and play important roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, the AEG-1 gene is a potential target for elimination of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.

Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 Increases Invasiveness of NSCLC Through Up-Regulating MMP7

“…Moreover, the upregulation of AEG-1 has been detected in several types of human cancer, including melanoma, glioblastoma, breast cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, neuroblastoma and NSCLC [13][14][15][16][17]. These studies demonstrate a substantial role of AEG-1 during cancer development and progression.…”

“…MMP7 is a member of MMP family, and plays a critical role in the processes of cancer metastases in different types of cancer, including NSCLC. AEG-1 is a newly defined oncogene in many cancers and seems to regulate cancer initiation, growth and metastases [13][14][15][16][17]. Nevertheless, whether AEG-1 may regulate MMP7-mediated cancer cell invasion has not been examined in NSCLC cells.…”

Role of MTDH, FOXM1 and microRNAs in Drug Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…MiR-375 has been shown to be downregulated in 60 human HCC compared to normal adjacent tissues [46]. Downregulation of N-cadherin and snail, upregulation of E-cadherin, and translocation of β-catenin by depletion expression of MTDH in HCC cell lines indicates that MTDH may promote HCC metastasis through the induction of the epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) process [47,48]. Moreover, MTDH overexpression was correlated with clinicopathologic characters including cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, chemoresistance, angiogenesis and poor clinical outcome [40,49,50].…”

Genetic variations in the one-carbon metabolism pathway genes and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a case–control study

“…The epidemiology of HCC exhibits two main patterns, one in North America and Western Europe and another in nonWestern countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, central and Southeast Asia, and the Amazon basin [4][5][6]. In China, HCC is one of the most common cancer types, with an incidence rate of 53/100,000 per year and a death rate of 37-55/100,000 annually [6][7][8].…”

“…The epidemiology of HCC exhibits two main patterns, one in North America and Western Europe and another in nonWestern countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, central and Southeast Asia, and the Amazon basin [4][5][6]. In China, HCC is one of the most common cancer types, with an incidence rate of 53/100,000 per year and a death rate of 37-55/100,000 annually [6][7][8]. However, the etiology of HCC is still unknown, while some risk factors have been identified, such as alcoholism, hepatitis B, hepatitis C infection, aflatoxin, cirrhosis of the liver, hemochromatosis, genetic susceptibility, and so on [9][10][11][12].…”