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Mesoderm/mesenchyme homeobox l may promote tumor progression in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Jie Ruan1, Ying Xie2, Huifang Zhou3

  • 1Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.

Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine : Official Organ Wroclaw Medical University
|February 13, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mesoderm/mesenchyme homeobox gene 1 (Meox1) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Targeting Meox1 may offer a new therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment response to targeted therapies remains limited.
  • Novel therapeutic targets for HCC are urgently needed.
  • Mesoderm/mesenchyme homeobox gene 1 (Meox1) has emerged as a potential factor in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical relevance of Meox1 in HCC.
  • To elucidate the biological function of Meox1 in HCC progression.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess Meox1 protein levels in 25 HCC patient tissues.
  • Correlation analysis was performed between Meox1 expression and clinicopathological features.
  • In vitro assays (proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion) were conducted using HCC cell lines (Huh7, Hep3B) with Meox1 silencing.

Main Results:

  • Meox1 expression was significantly elevated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues (p < 0.05).
  • Higher Meox1 levels were observed in HCC patients with cirrhosis (p < 0.05).
  • Increased Meox1 expression correlated significantly with advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging (p < 0.05).
  • Silencing Meox1 inhibited proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in HCC cell lines.

Conclusions:

  • Meox1 plays a critical role in the development and progression of HCC.
  • Meox1's involvement in proliferation and metastasis suggests it as a promising therapeutic target.
  • Targeting Meox1 could be a valuable strategy for combined and adjuvant HCC therapies.
Keywords:
hepatocellular carcinomamesoderm/mesenchyme homeobox gene lmetastasisprogressionproliferation

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