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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Metastasis | Primary research

SHC4 promotes tumor proliferation and metastasis by activating STAT3 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

Authors: Xin Zhang, Hongwei Zhang, Zhibin Liao, Jiacheng Zhang, Huifang Liang, Weixing Wang, Jia Yu, Keshuai Dong

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

The Src homology and collagen 4 (SHC4) is an important intracellular adaptor protein that has been shown to play a pro-cancer role in melanoma and glioma. However, the biological function and detailed mechanisms of SHC4 in hepatocellular carcinoma progression are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential prognostic and treatment value of SHC4 in patients with HCC.

Methods

The expression status of SHC4 in HCC tissues were investigated by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Clinical significance of SHC4 was evaluated in a large cohort of HCC patients. The effects of SHC4 repression or overexpression on migration, invasion, and tumor growth were detected by colony formation assay, wound healing, transwell assays, and xenograft assay. Cell cycle and EMT-related proteins were detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. In addition, the molecular regulation between SHC4 and STAT3 signaling in HCC were discovered by western blotting, immunofluorescence and xenograft assay.

Results

SHC4 was overexpressed in HCC compared to adjacent normal liver tissues and increased SHC4 expression was associated with high AFP level, incomplete tumor encapsulation, poor tumor differentiation and poor prognosis. SHC4 was shown to enhance cell proliferation, colony formation, cells migration and invasion in vitro, and promotes cell cycle progression and EMT process in HCC cells. Tumor xenograft model assay confirmed the oncogenic role of SHC4 in tumorigenicity in nude mice. Moreover, activation of STAT3 signaling was found in the SHC4 overexpressed HCC cells and HCC tissues. Further intervention of STAT3 confirmed STAT3 as an important signaling pathway for the oncogenic role of SHC4 in HCC.

Conclusions

Together, our results reveal that SHC4 activates STAT3 signaling to promote HCC progression, which may provide new clinical ideas for the treatment of HCC.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
SHC4 promotes tumor proliferation and metastasis by activating STAT3 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors
Xin Zhang
Hongwei Zhang
Zhibin Liao
Jiacheng Zhang
Huifang Liang
Weixing Wang
Jia Yu
Keshuai Dong
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-022-02446-9

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