Conclusion
NT157 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma migration and metastasis by downregulating the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3/c-Jun activation domain-binding protein-1 signaling pathway and targeting it may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.
Purpose
The high fatality-to-case ratio of hepatocellular carcinoma is directly related to metastasis. The signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 is a key mediator of the cytokine and growth factor signaling pathways and drives the transcription of genes responsible for cancer-associated phenotypes. However, so far, no specific inhibitor for signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 has been used in clinical practice. Therefore, targeting the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 for cancer therapy is highly desired to improve outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Experimental design: Using the small-molecule inhibitor NT157, the effect of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 inhibition on cell migration was tested in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and a lung metastasis model of the disease.
Results
NT157 significantly inhibited the migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines in vitro and lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo. Mechanistically, it inhibited the phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, NT157 treatment suppressed the c-Jun activation domain-binding protein-1 levels in the nucleus but no significant decrease was observed in its expression in the cytoplasm. Finally, high mRNA expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 and c-Jun activation domain-binding protein-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma were associated with significantly low survival rates.