<p>Relevance of EGFR Between Serum VEGF and MMP-9 in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Transarterial Chemoembolization</p>

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the relevance of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: The pre-treatment and post-treatment concentrations of the serum VEGF and MMP-9 were detected with Luminex assay in 80 EGFR-negative patients and 59 EGFRpositive patients who received TACE therapy with different chemotherapeutic drugs. Results: The serum concentration of MMP-9 in the EGFR-positive patients with primary HCC was significantly higher than that in the EGFR-negative patients (P < 0.05). In EGFRpositive patients with primary HCC, differences in stage, metastasis, and differentiation were significant (P < 0.05). Serum VEGF level significantly decreased at the second course of treatment in the EGFR-negative patients from the P group (P < 0.05), while serum MMP-9 level significantly decreased at the second course of treatment in the EGFR-negative patients from the E group (P < 0.05). Serum VEGF level in the EGFR-positive patients among three groups slightly decreased at the first, second and third courses of treatments; however, the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Serum MMP-9 level in the EGFR-positive patients among three groups showed mild decrease at the first and second courses of treatments; however, the decreases at the third course of treatment were significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Serum VEGF and MMP-9 are potential biomarkers for the treatment monitoring of EGFR-positive and-negative patients after TACE therapy with different chemotherapeutic drugs.

Telocytes promote hepatocellular carcinoma by activating the ERK signaling pathway and miR-942-3p/MMP9 axis

“…In this study, multivariate analysis revealed that high TC density and MMP9 expression were correlated with poor OS. These results are consistent with those of previous studies which found an association between abnormal MMP9 expression and breast cancer tumor malignancy [ 22 ], lymphatic metastasis, and clinical stage [ 30 ], and a close relationship between MMP9 expression and poor primary HCC prognosis [ 31 , 32 ]. By their basic functions, TCs mainly participate in changing microenvironmental metabolism [ 33 ].…”

“…Numerous miRNAs directly or indirectly regulate or control cell biological processes, including tumor metastasis and cell division, proliferation, and death. For instance, miR-128-3p functions as a tumor suppressor and triggers cell cycle arrest by repressing LIMK1 expression in breast cancer [ 42 ]; downregulation of miR-34a reduces HCC metastasis [ 31 ]. Based on TargetScan Database predictions miRNAs associated with MMP9 mRNA in TCs include miR-942-3p, miR-6792, miR-34, and miR-6734.…”

Telocytes Promote the Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Activating ERK Signaling Pathway and Sponging miR-942-3p to Impact MMP9

“…According to multivariate analysis, high density of TCs and MMP9 expression were correlated with poor overall survival. This result was consistent with previous reports that abnormal MMP-9 expression was associated with tumor malignancy [29] and lymphatic metastasis and clinical stages [40] in breast cancer, as well as close relation with the poor prognosis of primary HCC [41].…”