Downregulation of discoidin domain receptor 2 decreases tumor growth of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) have been identified as tyrosine kinase receptors for collagen, and the overexpression of DDR1 was correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression in vitro. Little is known about DDR2 on HCC cells, and we investigated the expression and function of DDR2 in human HCC cells.

Methods: Expression of DDR2 in human HCC cell lines and patient HCC tissues was observed.

Dual action of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells: novel involvement of discoidin domain receptor 2.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) greatly contributes to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is reported that a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor inhibits cellular proliferation and may attenuate VEGF expression in HCC. We propose that different cascades in the VEGF pathway respond to COX-2 inhibition, depending on the cell types.

Alpha-fetoprotein and human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Tumor-associated gene expression in peripheral blood reflects the presence of circulating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and might be associated with aggressive features of HCC. We assessed the prognostic significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase protein (hTERT) mRNA expression in the peripheral blood of HCC patients.

Methods: About 343 HCC patients, treated at the National Cancer Center, Korea, were included in this study.

TTF-1 regulates growth hormone and prolactin transcription in the anterior pituitary gland.

Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is required for morphogenesis of the fetal diencephalon. Previous reports showed that mice carrying a TTF-1 null mutation lacked normal development of the pituitary gland. In this study, a role for TTF-1 in the regulation of growth hormone and prolactin transcription was identified.