Effect of licartin combined with pirarubicin TACE on apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in unresectable liver cancer tissue

• Main Authors: Jia-Cheng Zhang, Yan-Yun Tian, Chao Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editorial Board of Journal of Hainan Medical University 2018-02-01
• Series: Journal of Hainan Medical University
• Subjects: Liver cancer; Licartin; Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization; Apoptosis; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition
• Online Access: http://www.hnykdxxb.com/PDF/201802/28.pdf

Objective: To study the effect of licartin combined with pirarubicin transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on apoptosis and epithelial - mesenchymal transition in unresectable liver cancer tissue. Methods: Patients with unresectable liver cancer who were treated in Navy General Hospital between May 2014 and October 2016 were selected and randomly divided into two groups, the licartin group received licartin combined with TACE therapy, and control group received TACE therapy alone. The expression of tumor suppressor genes, autophagy marker genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker genes in liver cancer lesions were determined before and after treatment. Results: After operation, RNF180, EBLN2, ALKBH5, Merlin, Beclin-1, LC3-II, TRAF-6 and E-cadherin protein expression in liver cancer lesions of both groups of patients were significantly higher than those before operation while Shh, Gli1, Snail, Twist, N-cadherin and Vimentin protein expression were significantly lower than those before operation, and RNF180, EBLN2, ALKBH5, Merlin, Beclin-1, LC3-II, TRAF-6 and E-cadherin protein expression in liver cancer lesions of licartin group were significantly higher than those of control group while Shh, Gli1, Snail, Twist, N-cadherin and Vimentin protein expression were significantly lower than those of control group. Conclusions: Licartin combined with pirarubicin TACE for unresectable liver cancer can more effectively induce apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition.