A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

Baojia Zou,1,* Xialei Liu,1,* Yihang Gong,1,* Chaonong Cai,1 Peiping Li,1 Shan Xing,2 Bibesh Pokhrel,1 Baimeng Zhang,1 Jian Li1 1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sun Yat-sen Univers...

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Main Authors: Zou B, Liu X, Gong Y, Cai C, Li P, Xing S, Pokhrel B, Zhang B, Li J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-11-01
Series:Cancer Management and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/a-novel-12-marker-panel-of-cancer-associated-fibroblasts-involved-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR
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author Zou B
Liu X
Gong Y
Cai C
Li P
Xing S
Pokhrel B
Zhang B
Li J
author_facet Zou B
Liu X
Gong Y
Cai C
Li P
Xing S
Pokhrel B
Zhang B
Li J
author_sort Zou B
collection DOAJ
description Baojia Zou,1,* Xialei Liu,1,* Yihang Gong,1,* Chaonong Cai,1 Peiping Li,1 Shan Xing,2 Bibesh Pokhrel,1 Baimeng Zhang,1 Jian Li1 1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background/Aim: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important factors in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But the characterization of these cells remains incomplete. This study aims to identify a panel of markers for CAFs that are associated with HCC progression. Materials and methods: The sequencing data and clinicopathological characteristics of 366 patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (366 HCC tissues and there were 50/366 cases with corresponding normal liver tissues). In vitro validation of the markers was performed by quantitative real-time PCR using the hepatic stellate cell line LX2 induced by the HCC cell line Huh7. The activation of LX2 was confirmed by α-smooth muscle actin and fibroblast activation protein, using quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining. In vivo detections of the 12 markers were done in 40 tissue samples (30 HCC and 10 normal). Results: We successfully identified 12 CAF markers from TCGA data: FGF5, CXCL5, IGFL2, MMP1, ADAM32, ADAM18, IGFL1, FGF8, FGF17, FGF19, FGF4, and FGF23. The 12-marker panel was associated with the pathological and clinical progressions of HCC. All 12 markers were upregulated in vitro. In vivo expressions of these markers were paralleled with those in TCGA data. Conclusion: A 12-marker panel of CAFs in HCC is identified, which is associated with both pathological and clinical progressions of cancer. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs marker panel, TCGA database analysis, transcriptome profiling
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spelling doaj.art-b30539030a7241dc936ea525e60860f22022-12-22T01:23:56ZengDove Medical PressCancer Management and Research1179-13222018-11-01Volume 105303531142030A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinomaZou BLiu XGong YCai CLi PXing SPokhrel BZhang BLi JBaojia Zou,1,* Xialei Liu,1,* Yihang Gong,1,* Chaonong Cai,1 Peiping Li,1 Shan Xing,2 Bibesh Pokhrel,1 Baimeng Zhang,1 Jian Li1 1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background/Aim: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important factors in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But the characterization of these cells remains incomplete. This study aims to identify a panel of markers for CAFs that are associated with HCC progression. Materials and methods: The sequencing data and clinicopathological characteristics of 366 patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (366 HCC tissues and there were 50/366 cases with corresponding normal liver tissues). In vitro validation of the markers was performed by quantitative real-time PCR using the hepatic stellate cell line LX2 induced by the HCC cell line Huh7. The activation of LX2 was confirmed by α-smooth muscle actin and fibroblast activation protein, using quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining. In vivo detections of the 12 markers were done in 40 tissue samples (30 HCC and 10 normal). Results: We successfully identified 12 CAF markers from TCGA data: FGF5, CXCL5, IGFL2, MMP1, ADAM32, ADAM18, IGFL1, FGF8, FGF17, FGF19, FGF4, and FGF23. The 12-marker panel was associated with the pathological and clinical progressions of HCC. All 12 markers were upregulated in vitro. In vivo expressions of these markers were paralleled with those in TCGA data. Conclusion: A 12-marker panel of CAFs in HCC is identified, which is associated with both pathological and clinical progressions of cancer. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs marker panel, TCGA database analysis, transcriptome profilinghttps://www.dovepress.com/a-novel-12-marker-panel-of-cancer-associated-fibroblasts-involved-peer-reviewed-article-CMARhepatocellular carcinomacancer-associated fibroblastsTCGA databasefibroblast marker paneltumor progression.
spellingShingle Zou B
Liu X
Gong Y
Cai C
Li P
Xing S
Pokhrel B
Zhang B
Li J
A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
Cancer Management and Research
hepatocellular carcinoma
cancer-associated fibroblasts
TCGA database
fibroblast marker panel
tumor progression.
title A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_fullStr A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_short A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
title_sort novel 12 marker panel of cancer associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
topic hepatocellular carcinoma
cancer-associated fibroblasts
TCGA database
fibroblast marker panel
tumor progression.
url https://www.dovepress.com/a-novel-12-marker-panel-of-cancer-associated-fibroblasts-involved-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR
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