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CAPS1 Negatively Regulates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development through Alteration of Exocytosis-Associated Tumor

Ruyi Xue1, Wenqing Tang2, Pingping Dong3

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. xue.ruyi@zs-hospital.sh.cn.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|October 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion 1 (CAPS1) acts as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Loss of CAPS1 correlates with aggressive HCC, while its overexpression inhibits tumor growth and proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Neuroscience

Background:

  • Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion 1 (CAPS1) is crucial for dense-core vesicle (DCV) exocytosis in neurons and neuroendocrine cells.
  • The function of CAPS1 in cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CAPS1 in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • To evaluate CAPS1 expression levels and its prognostic significance in HCC patients.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified CAPS1 expression in eight hepatoma cell lines and 141 HCC patient specimens.
  • Assessed the correlation between CAPS1 expression and clinical parameters, including tumor grade and metastasis.
  • Investigated the functional impact of CAPS1 overexpression on hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo models.

Main Results:

  • Reduced CAPS1 expression in HCC tissues significantly correlated with advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and lack of tumor encapsulation.
  • Lower CAPS1 levels were associated with poorer overall survival and increased recurrence rates in HCC patients.
  • Overexpression of CAPS1 suppressed hepatoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo, suggesting modulation of the tumor microenvironment.

Conclusions:

  • CAPS1 functions as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • CAPS1 expression is a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC.
  • Targeting CAPS1 or its pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Keywords:
calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion 1exocytosishepatocellular carcinomamembrane traffickingprognosistumor microenvironment

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