title: Differences in antiproliferative effect of STAT3 inhibition in HCC cells with versus without HBV expression.
abstract: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays an important role in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inactivation could inhibit the tumor growth of HCC. In this study, differential antiproliferative effect of STAT3 inhibition was observed with HBV-related HCC cells being more resistant than non-HBV-related HCC cells. Resistance of HBV-related HCC cells to STAT3 inhibition was positively correlated to the expression of HBV. Enhanced ERK activation after STAT3 blockade was detected in HBV-related HCC cells but not in non-HBV-related HCC cells. Combined ERK and STAT3 inhibition eliminates the discrepancy between the two types of HCC cells. Moderate reduced HBV expression was found after STAT3 inhibition. These findings disclose a discrepancy in cellular response to STAT3 inhibition between non-HBV-related and HBV-related HCC cells and underscore the complexity of antiproliferative effect of STAT3 inactivation in HBV-related HCC cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
authors.forename: Weilin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China. Electronic address: shusenzheng@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shusen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017931:DNA Primers; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human
keywords: Cell proliferation; ERK; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; STAT3