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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
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Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans
Published on: May 21, 2020
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ER stress signaling at the interphase between MASH and HCC
Younis Hazari1,2,3,4, Eric Chevet5,6, Béatrice Bailly-Maitre7,8
1Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
|April 16, 2024
Summary
Chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a key factor linking liver disease to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Targeting the unfolded protein response offers potential new cancer therapies for HCC.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent primary liver cancer with a poor prognosis, often arising from chronic liver diseases.
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis is a significant risk factor for HCC, characterized by impaired endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteostasis.
- ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are cellular adaptive mechanisms to restore ER function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose chronic ER stress as a common factor in the progression from liver disease to HCC.
- To highlight the critical role of ER stress signaling in HCC development.
- To discuss potential interventional strategies targeting the UPR for HCC therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent advances in ER stress signaling and HCC progression.
- Analysis of the link between chronic liver disease, ER stress, and HCC development.
- Discussion of therapeutic strategies targeting the unfolded protein response.
Main Results:
- Chronic ER stress is identified as a transversal factor contributing to the transition from liver disease to HCC.
- ER stress signaling is confirmed to play a critical role in the progression of HCC.
- Targeting the UPR presents a promising avenue for novel HCC cancer therapies.
Conclusions:
- Chronic ER stress is a unifying mechanism in the pathogenesis of HCC.
- Interventions aimed at modulating the UPR may offer new therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Understanding the role of ER proteostasis is crucial for managing HCC.
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