Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
 71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The high oncogenic efficiency of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) has been correlated with the ability of this virus to provoke insertional activation of myc family genes. To assess the impact of viral integration on liver cell transformation, we have generated transgenic mice carrying the mutated c-myc gene and adjacent viral DNA from a woodchuck tumor, in original configuration. Virtually all mice from two different strains developed hepatocellular carcinoma with a mean latency period of 8-12 months. The c-myc transgene was expressed transiently in neonatal livers, and re-expressed at preneoplastic and neoplastic stages in adult livers. Woodchuck c-myc mRNA driven by the normal P1 and P2 promoters and WHV-specific transcripts encoding viral surface antigens were produced in a strictly co-regulated fashion during development and tumorigenesis, indicating a predominant regulatory influence of the viral enhancer. Furthermore, the activity of the viral enhancer in response to various biological stimuli was apparently modulated by glucose uptake and glucagon/insulin balance in differentiated hepatocytes. In this model, a viral integration event selected from a naturally occurring tumor proved to be determinant for induction of hepatocarcinogenesis, although enforced, liver-specific expression of c-myc was limited to a particular developmental stage.
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PMID:Liver-specific expression and high oncogenic efficiency of a c-myc transgene activated by woodchuck hepatitis virus insertion. 810 15

Gap junctional communication (GJC) is mediated by channels consisting of connexins and can be differentially regulated by ions, second messengers, kinases, phosphatases, and cell adhesion molecules. Tumor cells and oncogene-transformed cells often, but not always, show reduced homologous GJC between themselves. A more stringent correlation may exist between transformation and reduced heterologous communication between transformed cells and normal neighbors. Reduced GJC seems to stimulate tumor promotion but has no significant effect on the initiation phase of carcinogenesis. These effects may reflect the importance of intercellular passage of second messengers or other small molecules in cell growth control. Some evidence suggests that gap junction in combination with cell adhesion molecules can affect metastatic potential, but a clear picture has not yet emerged. Coupling and gap junction expression can be regulated both pre- and posttranslationally in oncogene-transformed cells. Src probably downregulates GJC in fibroblasts by tyrosine phosphorylation of connexin43. The Ras-induced reduction in GJC appears to be caused by decreased connexin expression. E1A, but not Myc and Fos, downregulates GJC to some extent. Artificial expression of connexin in glioma, hepatoma, chemically transformed, and src-transformed cells can restore GJC and suppress growth and/or tumorigenesis. These results argue for involvement of GJC in transformation and growth control.
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PMID:Gap junctional communication and neoplastic transformation. 824 23

The association between chronic infection by hepadnaviruses isolated from human (HBV), woodchuck (WHV), ground squirrel (GSHV) and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in their respective hosts is well established (reviewed in [11, 15, 17]). By contrast, the association of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection with HCC is less documented. Pekin ducks congenitally infected with DHBV and followed for several years throughout the world do not develop liver tumors: HCC has been found only in domestic ducks from a single area of China, Qidong. Several factors such as DHBV carrier rate, breed and age of ducks, subtype of DHBV and environmental carcinogens are suspected to contribute to this striking difference between the geographical repartition of liver cancer in DHBV-carrier ducks. In this brief review we will consider successively the role of these different factors in duck liver oncogenesis.
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PMID:Duck hepatitis B virus infection, aflatoxin B1 and liver cancer in ducks. 826 Aug 80

A specific viral oncogenic mechanism has not been shown for hepatitis B virus (HBV), although persistent HBV infection has been strongly associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most HCCs in HBV carriers contain integrated viral sequences in host DNA and this raises the question of whether such integrations ever contribute to oncogenesis. HBV does contain a gene (designated the hbx gene) which encodes a transcriptional trans-activator protein capable of activating homologous and heterologous regulatory sequences. Hbx has been detected in some human HCC with HBV integrations and the expressed hbx protein appears to have transcriptional transactivating activity. These findings raise the possibility that hbx expression could contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis by activating cellular genes that could contribute to oncogenicity. The possibility that the hbx protein may activate certain protooncogenes was investigated and we found that hbx can activate the protooncogene c-jun promoter. c-Jun was found to be expressed at a very low level in normal liver tissue but at high levels in HCCs of HBV-infected patients.
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PMID:Activation of protooncogene c-jun by the X protein of hepatitis B virus. 839 Jul 62

Despite increasing understanding of the genetic control of cell growth and the identification of several involved chemical and infectious factors, the pathogenesis of clinical and experimental hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown. Available evidence is consistent with the possibility that selected changes in the hepatocellular metabolism of long-chain fatty acids may contribute significantly to this, process. Specifically, studies of the peroxisome proliferators, a diverse group of xenobiotics that includes the fibrate class of hypolipidemic drugs, suggest that increased fatty acid oxidation by way of extramitochondrial pathways (i.e., omega-oxidation in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and beta-oxidation in the peroxisomes) results in a corresponding increase in the generation of hydrogen peroxide and, thus, oxidative stress. This in turn leads to alterations in gene expression and in DNA itself. We also review evidence supporting a potentially decisive influence of particular aspects of hepatocellular fatty acid metabolism in determining the activity of the extramitochondrial pathways. Moreover, certain intermediates of extramitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (e.g., the long-chain dicarboxylic fatty acids) impair mitochondrial function and are implicated as modulators of gene expression through their interaction with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Finally, the occurrence of hepatic tumors in type I glycogen storage disease (glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency) may exemplify this general mechanism, which may also contribute to nonneoplastic liver injury and to tumorigenesis in other tissues.
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PMID:Fatty-acid metabolism and the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma: review and hypothesis. 839 60

The aim of this study was to survey the expression of an embryonic cytokine gene, MK, in the normal organs and neoplastic tissues of adults. Northern analysis showed that MK mRNA was exclusively expressed in the kidney among murine organs including thymus, lung, heart, spleen, liver, and kidney. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that MK expression was localized in the proximal tubules and metaplastic Bowman's epithelium, but not in other nephron segments such as glomeruli, loop of Henle, distal tubules, and collecting ducts. To investigate whether MK expression is a marker of tubular cell lineage, several cell lines originating from renal tubules were tested. No expression of MK was detected in PtK1 and LLC-PK1 cells derived from marsupial and porcine proximal tubules or in MDBK and MDCK cells from bovine and canine distal/collecting tubules. Unexpectedly, the MK gene was expressed in a human renal cell carcinoma line, VMRC-RCW, and the expression was up-regulated in the presence of retinoic acid. To elucidate the involvement of MK in the development of tumors, we further examined its expression in a variety of human neoplastic cell lines: YMB-1-C (breast cancer), EBC-1 (lung squamous cell carcinoma), RERF-LC-OK (lung adenocarcinoma), SBC-3 (lung small cell carcinoma), HSC-2 (mouth squamous cell carcinoma), NUGC-2 (gastric cancer), COLO201 (colon cancer), HepG2 (hepatoma), MIA PaCa-2 (pancreatic cancer), MCAS (ovarian cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), BeWo (chorionic carcinoma), ITO-II (testicular tumor), T24 (urinary bladder tumor), and G-401 (Wilms' tumor). Strong signals were detected in COLO201, HepG2, ITO-II, T24, G-401, and weaker but distinct signals were detected in YMB-1-C, HSC-2, and MCAS cells. The MK gene was, therefore, widely expressed in neoplastic cells originating from genital organs, intestinal tract, liver, mammary gland, and urinary tract, and the expression was not restricted to adenocarcinomas, but was also observed in other types of tumor cells. These findings suggest that a retinoic acid responsive gene, MK, may play a role in the pathophysiology of renal proximal tubules and tumorigenesis in many types of neoplasms.
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PMID:A retinoid responsive cytokine gene, MK, is preferentially expressed in the proximal tubules of the kidney and human tumor cell lines. 843 39

Oral contraceptives (OCs) are implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mitogenic stimulation may be the primary mechanism of tumorigenesis, but other factors may also contribute. Mutational spectrum analysis can provide insights into pathogenesis, therefore we analyzed the p53 tumor suppressor gene in 10 HCCs from women with a history of OC use. All were non-Asians whose average OC use was 6.7 years (range 2 months-13 years) and whose mean age at HCC diagnosis was 48.8 years (range 21-67 years). Each tumor was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, DNA sequencing and allelic deletion analysis. Three tumors were positive by p53 immunohistochemistry; allelic deletion analysis identified loss of heterozygosity in one of four informative cases. Two p53 point mutations were found in one tumor containing moderately and well-differentiated components; this patient was negative for all serological markers of hepatitis B and C infections. Both components showed p53 protein accumulation and a GTTval-->GCTala mutation at codon 274. In addition, a silent mutation (ACCthr-->ACTthr) at codon 140 of the p53 gene was detected in the moderately differentiated component of the tumor. These preliminary data indicate that p53 mutations are uncommon in OC-related HCCs. One of the two detected mutations was a G:C-->A:T transition at a non-CpG site, which is characteristic of DNA damage by free radicals. These data support a model whereby estrogens contribute to HCC development primarily through mitogen stimulation and secondarily by mutagenesis via hydroxyl radicals produced during estrogen metabolism. Confirmational analysis of a larger series is warranted.
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PMID:p53 mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma related to oral contraceptive use. 856 24

The role of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein in liver tumorigenesis is unresolved. Transgenic mice harboring the X gene (nt 1376-1840 under the control of the human alpha-1-antitrypsin regulatory elements) (ATX mice) display only minor histopathologic alterations of the liver. To determine if ATX mice are more susceptible to the effects of hepatocarcinogens, 12- to 15-d-old male ATX and control littermate mice were injected with a single dose (2 microgram/g body weight) of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The animals were killed 6-10 mo after exposure and were analyzed for histological changes in the liver. One hundred percent of the DEN-treated AXT mice developed abnormal liver lesions. Then their liver tissues were compared by stereological analysis with those of non-transgenic animals, the ATX mice had a relative twofold increase in the total number of focal lesion and a twofold increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Elevated levels of X protein and p53 protein were not detected in carcinogen-induced nodules or tumors. These results are consistent with a model in which the expression of the HBV X protein potentiates the induction of DEN-mediated liver disease.
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PMID:Increased sensitivity to the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine in transgenic mice carrying the hepatitis B virus X gene. 863 84

A proportion of familial breast cancer has recently been shown by genetic linkage analysis to map to chromosome l3q12 (Wooster et al, 1994). This locus contains a tumor suppressor gene BRCA2, mutations in which lead to tumorigenesis. Genetic alterations at this locus have also been shown in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and in hepatocellular carcinoma. In an effort to isolate the BRCA2 gene, we have cloned 73 non overlapping cDNAs from a set of nine YACs spanning 6 cM interval on chromosome 13q12 by using a direct cDNA selection method. One of the selected cDNAs corresponds to a region of the 3' portion of BRCA2 mRNA, the sequence of which was published recently (Wooster et al, 1995). Northern analysis of BRCA2 transcripts from a variety of cell lines showed altered sizes of the mRNA in a breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and a prostate carcinoma cell line (DU145). Furthermore, BRCA2 transcript was present in cDNA libraries from total fetus as well as adult human tissues. Fifteen unique cDNA fragments encode genes/ESTs that are already known, of which only two have been mapped to this region. The other 12 cDNAs include genes for RPL6/mRNA for TAX REB 107, elongation factor-1 delta, 26S protease S4 regulatory subunit, small cytoplasmic 7SL RNA, a full length open reading frame (ORFU), brain thiol specific antioxidant protein, ribosomal protein, L35, and lipoxygenase activating protein. Six cDNAs represent human homologs of genes known in other species, namely, mouse HSPE71, Rat RhoGAP protein, S cerevisiae leucyl tRNA synthetase and S cerevisiae chromosome II ORF YBLO44W. The remaining 52 cDNAs showed either weak similarity or no similarity to sequences in the nucleotide data base and hence would represent novel genes. The plausible functions of some of these genes based on their sequence similarity to other known genes is discussed.
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PMID:Isolation of expressed sequences that include a gene for familial breast cancer (BRCA2) and other novel transcripts from a five megabase region on chromosome 13q12. 870 May 50

The preclinical safety assessment of cyproterone acetate (CPA) with regard to liver tumorigenesis was based on tumorigenicity studies, which revealed no mutagenic potential. Recently, in vitro studies on the formation of adducts and the enhancement of DNA repair synthesis with CPA have been published. These results are not unique to CPA, and the role of adducts and increased DNA synthesis in mutagenesis is still not clear. Dose-related hepatic toxicity has been reported with the prolonged use of CPA. An active surveillance study of patients taking long term CPA treatment has shown no correlation between the duration of CPA treatment and the prevalence of liver enzyme elevations. In a multicentre surveillance study of long term CPA use in 2506 patients included so far, not a single case of hepatocellular carcinoma has been observed. These findings do not support the theory of an elevated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma as a result of CPA treatment. In conclusion, there have been no observations which could point to an increased risk of proliferative liver change as a result of CPA treatment.
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PMID:Cyproterone acetate: is it hepato- or genotoxic? 871 86


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