CD133+ cancer stem cells promoted by VEGF accelerate the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma

Liu, K., et al., 2017, Sci Rep 7: 41499.

Speaker: Shun-Yun Hou(侯舜芸)                                 Time: 15:00~16:00, May.17, 2017

Commentator: Dr. Ai-Li Shiau (蕭璦莉老師)              Place: Room 601

Abstract:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second lethal cancer in the worldwide. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may probably accelerate its recurrence and metastasis (1). In previous studies, cancerous recurrence is related to cancer stem cells (CSCs) (2). CSCs are minor population in tumor with self-renewal and differentiation abilities. CD133+ cells are one of the CSCs in HCC. Many studies have shown that CD133+ cells and a few CSC transcriptional factors (e.g., Nanog) contribute to tumour recurrence and metastasis.  On the other hand, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signal protein that can stimulate angiogenesis , which is crucial for tumor formation. Recently, results demonstrated that VEGF induced microscopic venous invasion and metastasis in HCC (3). However, how VEGF promotes HCCstemness about cancerous recurrence still remains unclear. In this study, the author used human primary HCC cells (pHCCs) after RFA treatment to detect VEGF level and stem cell populations. They found that pHCCs had high levels of VEGF and CD133+ stem cells population. Their results also showed that VEGF could increase CD133+ CSCs and Nanog expression by activating VEGFR2. Furthermore, CD133+ CSCs isolated from pHCCs with VEGF pre-treated; enhanced tumorigenic cell frequency in vivo. In conclusion, this study revealed that VEGF could enhance CD133+ CSCs population of HCC through activation of VEGF2 and promote recurrence of HCC after RFA.

References

1.    Tong Y, Yang H, Xu X, Ruan J, Liang M, Wu J, et al. Effect of a hypoxic microenvironment after radiofrequency ablation on residual hepatocellular cell migration and invasion. Cancer science. 2017;108(4):753-62.

2.    Yamashita T, Wang XW. Cancer stem cells in the development of liver cancer. The Journal of clinical investigation. 2013;123(5):1911-8.

3.    Goel HL, Mercurio AM. VEGF targets the tumour cell. Nature reviews Cancer. 2013;13(12):871-82.