Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) tumors all carry a deletion of ∼400 kb in chromosome 19, resulting in a fusion of the genes for the heat shock protein, DNAJ (Hsp40) homolog, subfamily B, member 1, DNAJB1, and the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A, PRKACA. The resulting chimeric transcript produces a fusion protein that retains kinase activity. No other recurrent genomic alterations have been identified. Here we characterize the molecular pathogenesis of FLHCC with transcriptome sequencing (RNA sequencing). Differential expression (tumor vs. adjacent normal tissue) was detected for more than 3,500 genes (log2 fold change ≥1, false discovery rate ≤0.01), many of which were distinct from those found in hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of several known oncogenes, such as ErbB2 and Aurora Kinase A, was increased in tumor samples. These and other dysregulated genes may serve as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
fibrolamellar carcinoma drug repurposing pediatric rare tumors patient derived xenografts drug screening fusion gene Abbreviations: ATR -Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein AURKA -Aurora kinase A AURKB -Aurora kinase B Bcl-xL -B-cell lymphoma-extra large encoded by the BCL2-like 1 gene Bcl2 -B-cell lymphoma 2 ITS -Insulin, (human) Transferrin, Selenium BID -BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist BIM -Bcl-2-like protein 11 CA12 -Carbonic anhydrase 12 CDc7 -Cell division cycle 7-related protein kinase CDK -Cyclin depedent protein kinase Cyp19A1 -Also know as aromatase or estrogen synthase DAB -3,3'-Diaminobenzidine DMSO -Dimethyl sulfoxide DNA-PK -DNA protein kinase EGFR -Epidermal growth factor receptor eIF4F -Eukaryotic initiation factor 4F ErbB2 -erythroblastic oncogene B, also known as Her-2 protooncogene Neu and as epidermal growth factor receptor-2 FLC -fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma H&E -hematoxylin and eosin HSA -Highest Single Agent HCC -hepatocellular carcinoma HDAC -Histone deacetylase HSP70 -Heat Shock Protein 70
Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare primary liver tumor that often arises in the absence of cirrhosis or viral hepatitis. Compared with hepatocellular carcinoma, patients are typically younger with less comorbidities. Diagnosis is often multimodal and requires a high level of suspicion, as traditional liver pathology markers, such as serum ? fetoprotein and transaminases, are often normal. Overall, patients respond well to surgical resection but recurrences are frequent, and alternative therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, are not well studied. Currently, there are no established chemotherapy regimens; there are only limited case reports of select agents, such as 5-fluorouracil with interferon-? and gemcitabine with oxaliplatin, used with varying degrees of success. Because little is known about this rare tumor, the development of serum markers and alternative therapies continues to be a challenge. A major advancement in the understanding of this rare disease is the discovery of a functional chimeric transcript incorporating DNAJB1 and PRKACA. This finding may finally provide the basis for specific diagnostic markers and chemotherapies that patients with this disease have long needed. Here, we present advances in the surgical treatment of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as recent data on its tumor biology and pathogenesis.
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