Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines
08:50

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines

Published on: April 18, 2025

Overexpression of far upstream element binding proteins: a mechanism regulating proliferation and migration in liver

Mona Malz1, Achim Weber, Stephan Singer

  • 1Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
|July 9, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Far upstream element binding proteins (FBPs) drive liver cancer by promoting cell proliferation and migration, partly through the microtubule-destabilizing protein stathmin. Targeting FBPs offers a new therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microtubule dynamics are crucial for cancer cell functions like mitosis and migration.
  • Stathmin (oncoprotein 18) is a key regulator of microtubule destabilization.
  • Molecular mechanisms deregulating microtubule modifiers in hepatocarcinogenesis are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of far upstream element binding proteins (FBPs) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • To explore the relationship between FBPs, stathmin, and tumor progression.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Profiling data analysis of human HCC tissues.
  • In vitro studies using HCC cell lines to assess FBP-1 and FBP-2 functions.
  • Analysis of stathmin expression in relation to FBP levels.
  • Assessment of cell morphology and malignant phenotype.

Main Results:

  • FBPs, specifically FBP-1 and FBP-2, were significantly coregulated with stathmin in HCC.
  • Co-overexpression of FBP-1 and FBP-2 correlated with poor patient survival.
  • FBP-1 promoted proliferation, while FBP-2 enhanced migration in HCC cell lines.
  • FBP-1 expression correlated with stathmin levels; FBP-1 inhibition reduced stathmin.

Conclusions:

  • Coordinated activation of FBP-1 and FBP-2 is a novel mechanism promoting liver cancer proliferation and motility.
  • FBPs utilize stathmin to promote tumor-relevant functions.
  • FBPs represent a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

More Related Videos

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants07:38

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants

Published on: June 6, 2025

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...