Romidepsin induces G2/M phase arrest via Erk/cdc25C/cdc2/cyclinB pathway and apoptosis induction through JNK/c-Jun/caspase3 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The aim of the study is to demonstrate the effect of Romidepsin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by inducing G2/M phase arrest via Erk/cdc25C/cdc2/cyclinB pathway and apoptosis through JNK/c-Jun/caspase3 pathway in vitro and in vivo. Human HCC cell lines were cultured with Romidepsin and DMSO (negative control) and 5-fluorouracil (positive control). Then the cells' viability and apoptosis were determined by cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry. Protein concentrations and expression changes were measured by Western blot. Subsequently, Huh7 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into the nude mice, which were employed to further probe the tumor-suppressive effect of Romidepsin in vivo. Romidepsin treatment led to a time- and dose-dependent induction of cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and apoptosis. G2/M phase arrest inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells by alterations in p21/cdc25C/cdc2/cyclinB proteins. Increased concentrations of Erk and JNK phosphorylations were observed in a dose-dependent manner in the Romidepsin group, but p38 phosphorylation was not affected. G2/M phase arrest and the apoptosis of HCC cells induced by Romidepsin were mediated by the activation of Erk/MAPK pathways and JNK/MAPK pathways. The tumor size was significantly larger in the negative control group compared to Romidepsin group and no significant loss in body weight was observed in the Romidepsin group. Our findings offer proof-of-concept for use of Romidepsin as a novel class of chemotherapy in the treatment of HCC.

Expression of AQP1 Was Associated with Apoptosis and Survival of Patients in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, interest in the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in human gastrointestinal carcinogenesis has developed. However, to date no studies have examined relationships between AQP1 expression and specific characteristics of gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We investigated 109 specimens of primary gastric adenocarcinoma and their corresponding normal gastric mucosa using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine AQP1 expression. We then evaluated disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in these patients in association with AQP1 expression. RESULTS: Both immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses identified increased AQP1 expression in tumors from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). The 3-year DFS and OS rates were higher in the AQP1-negative group than in the positive group (DFS: 77.2 vs. 52.8%, p < 0.001; OS: 85.1 vs. 70.7%, p < 0.001). The 5-year DFS and OS rates exhibited a similar trend (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of patients with early gastric adenocarcinoma (stages I and II) revealed a total 5-year OS of 90.0%, with 5-year OS being higher in the AQP1-negative group than in the positive group (95.2 vs. 84.2%). Furthermore, incidence of tumor recurrence following surgical treatment was significantly higher in the AQP1-positive group (4/19, 21.1%) compared with the negative group (0/21, 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that AQP1 plays an important role in gastric adenocarcinoma and may therefore represent a novel therapeutic target and prognostic marker in this disease.