RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and deadly cancer; however, very little improvement has been made towards its diagnosis and prognosis. The expression and functional contribution of the receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1 have not been investigated in HCC before. Hence, we investigated the expression of ROR1 in HCC cells and assessed its involvement in hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: Recombinant bacterial ROR1 protein was used as an immunogen to generate ROR1 monoclonal antibodies. ROR1 transcript levels were detected by RT-qPCR and the protein expression of ROR1 in HCC was assessed by Western blotting by using homemade anti-ROR1 monoclonal antibodies. Apoptosis, cell cycle, trans-well migration, and drug efflux assays were performed in shRNA-ROR1 HCC cell clones to uncover the functional contribution of ROR1 to hepatocarcinogenesis. RESULTS: New ROR1 antibodies specifically detected endogenous ROR1 protein in human and mouse HCC cell lines. ROR1-knockdown resulted in decreased proliferation and migration but enhanced resistance to apoptosis and anoikis. The observed chemotherapy-resistant phenotype of ROR1-knockdown cells was due to enhanced drug efflux and increased expression of multi-drug resistance genes. CONCLUSIONS: ROR1 is expressed in HCC and contributes to disease development by interfering with multiple pathways. Acquired ROR1 expression may have diagnostic and prognostic value in HCC.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/enzimología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/enzimología , Receptores Huérfanos Similares al Receptor Tirosina Quinasa/metabolismo , Animales , Anoicis/efectos de los fármacos , Anoicis/genética , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Apoptosis/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/efectos de los fármacos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Transición Epitelial-Mesenquimal/efectos de los fármacos , Fase G1/efectos de los fármacos , Fase G1/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patología , Ratones , Fenotipo , Regulación hacia Arriba/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación hacia Arriba/genéticaRESUMEN
Invading colorectal cancer (CRC) cells have acquired the capacity to break free from their sister cells, infiltrate the stroma, and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). Characterizing the biology of this phenotypically distinct group of cells could substantially improve our understanding of early events during the metastatic cascade. Tumor invasion is a dynamic process facilitated by bidirectional interactions between malignant epithelium and the cancer associated stroma. In order to examine cell-specific responses at the tumor stroma-interface we have combined organotypic co-culture and laser micro-dissection techniques. Organotypic models, in which key stromal constituents such as fibroblasts are 3-dimensionally co-cultured with cancer epithelial cells, are highly manipulatable experimental tools which enable invasion and cancer-stroma interactions to be studied in near-physiological conditions. Laser microdissection (LMD) is a technique which entails the surgical dissection and extraction of the various strata within tumor tissue, with micron level precision. By combining these techniques with genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling we aim to develop a deeper understanding of the molecular characteristics of invading tumor cells and surrounding stromal tissue, and in doing so potentially reveal novel biomarkers and opportunities for drug development in CRC.
