Abstract
BackgroundCancer development is strictly correlated to composition and physical properties of the extracellular matrix. Particularly, a higher matrix stiffness has been demonstrated to promote tumor sustained growth. Our purpose was to explore the role of matrix stiffness in liver cancer development.MethodsThe matrix stiffness of tumor tissues was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. In vitro, we used a tunable Polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels culture system for liver cancer cells culture. The expression level of integrin β1, phosphorylated FAK, ERK1/2, and NF-κB in SMMC-7721 cells was measured by western blotting analysis. We performed MTT, colony formation and transwell assay to examine the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of SMMC-7721 cells cultured on the tunable PA hydrogels. SMMC-7721 cancer xenografts were established to explore the anticancer effects of integrin inhibitors.ResultsOur study provided evidence that liver tumor tissues from metastatic patients possessed a higher matrix stiffness, when compared to the non-metastatic group. Liver cancer cells cultured on high stiffness PA hydrogels displayed enhanced tumorigenic potential and migrative properties. Mechanistically, activation of integrin β1/FAK/ ERK1/2/NF-κB signaling pathway was observed in SMMC-7721 cells cultured on high stiffness PA hydrogels. Inhibition of ERK1/2, FAK, and NF-κB signaling suppressed the pro-tumor effects induced by matrix stiffness. Combination of chemotherapy and integrin β1 inhibitor suppressed the tumor growth and prolonged survival time in hepatocellular cancer xenografts.ConclusionA higher matrix stiffness equipped tumor cells with enhanced stemness and proliferative characteristics, which was dependent on the activation of integrin β1/FAK/ERK1/2/NF-κB signaling pathway. Blockade of integrin signals efficiently improved the outcome of chemotherapy, which described an innovative approach for liver cancer treatment.
Highlights
Cancer development is strictly correlated to composition and physical properties of the extracellular matrix
Our colony formation analysis revealed that SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cultured in high stiffness hydrogels exhibited a strengthened ability to form spheroid colonies (Fig. 1D)
The same result was observed in tumorigenic analysis (Fig. 1E), suggesting that high matrix stiffness could promote the capability of proliferation and tumorigenic potential in liver cancer cells
Summary
Cancer development is strictly correlated to composition and physical properties of the extracellular matrix. Compelling findings provide evidence that the extracellular matrix could support tumor cells proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thereby causing the tumor growth and distant metastasis [7]. AJ Rice and his colleagues reported that greater matrix stiffness could mediate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process of pancreatic cancer cells, resulting in the tumor cells invasion and distant metastasis [14]. Those studies support matrix stiffness as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. The underlying mechanism of matrix stiffness promoting cancer development remains controversial, and it might be a feasible strategy to target matrix stiffness associated signaling pathway for clinical liver cancer therapy
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