Regel, I.* ; Eichenmüller, M.* ; Mahajan, U.M.* ; Hagl, B. ; Benitz, S.* ; Häberle, B.* ; Vokuhl, C.* ; von Schweinitz, D.* ; Kappler, R.*
Downregulation of SFRP1 is a protumorigenic event in hepatoblastoma and correlates with beta-catenin mutations.
J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. 146, 1153-1167 (2020)
Background Hepatoblastoma (HB) and pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the most common malignant liver tumors in childhood. Both tumor types exhibit genetic and epigenetic alterations in the WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway, which is a key regulator of liver progenitor cells in embryonic development. The tumors demonstrate a high rate of beta-catenin mutations and gene expression changes of several WNT antagonists. However, the role of the WNT inhibitory factor secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) has not been addressed in pediatric liver cancer so far. Results In our study, we investigated the gene expression level, DNA methylation status and functional relevance of SFRP1 in HB cell lines and in pediatric liver tumor patient samples. SFRP1 was downregulated due to DNA promoter methylation in all tested HB cell lines. Overexpression of SFRP1 in HB cell lines diminished tumor cell proliferation, colony formation and migration potential. In addition, the SFRP1-expressing HB cell lines showed reduced WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway activity and decreased expression of WNT target genes. To evaluate the utility of SFRP1 as a biomarker in pediatric liver cancer, we determined the gene expression level and DNA methylation status of SFRP1 in 45 pediatric liver tumor patient samples. The correlation analysis of different clinical parameters and tumor characteristics revealed a significant correlation of reduced SFRP1 expression with the presence of mutant beta-catenin. The methylation status of SFRP1 was furthermore associated to a pediatric liver tumor type with HCC-like characteristics, TERT mutations and an older age at diagnosis. Conclusion Altogether, our data demonstrate that the epigenetic suppression of the WNT/beta-catenin antagonist SFRP1 has an important impact on the malignant behavior of HB cells. Although SFRP1 methylation is a common event in HCC-like pediatric liver tumors, its potential as a prognostic or diagnostic biomarker needs to be further investigated.
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Pediatric Liver Cancer ; Hepatoblastoma ; Hepatocellular Carcinoma ; Epigenetics ; Dna Methylation ; Wnt Signaling ; Sfrp1 ; Dkk1 ; Wif1 ; Apc; Frizzled-related Protein-1; Wnt/beta-catenin; Promoter Hypermethylation; Epigenetic Inactivation; Methylation; Proliferation; Antagonist; Genes; Expression; Dickkopf-1
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2020
Prepublished im Jahr
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2020
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0171-5216
e-ISSN
1432-1335
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 146,
Heft: 5,
Seiten: 1153-1167
Artikelnummer: ,
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Springer
Verlagsort
One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States
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0000-00-00
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Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
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Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
Institut(e)
Institute of Environmental Medicine (IEM)
POF Topic(s)
30202 - Environmental Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Allergy
PSP-Element(e)
G-503400-002
Förderungen
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2020-04-16