title: The significance of Brf1 overexpression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Brf1 (TFIIB-related factor 1) plays a crucial role in cell transformation and tumorigenesis. However, the significance of Brf1 expression in human HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) cases remains to be addressed. In this study, biopsies of human HCC, liver tumor samples of mice and cell lines of normal and tumor liver were utilized to determine the alteration of Brf1 expression using cytological and molecular biological approaches. Brf1 expression is increased in human HCC cases, which is correlated with shorter survival times. Levels of Brf1 and Pol III (RNA polymerase III-dependent) gene transcription in HCC patients with alcohol consumption are higher than the cases of non-HCC with or without alcohol intake. Induction of Brf1 and Pol III genes by ethanol in hepatoma cells is higher than in non-tumor cells. Ethanol increases the rate of cell transformation. Repression of Brf1 inhibits alcohol-promoted cell transformation. Alcohol consumption enhances Brf1 expression to promote cell transformation. These studies demonstrate that Brf1 is a new biomarker of HCC.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shaoyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ganggang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008875:Middle Aged; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C441028:BRF1 protein, human; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
keywords: Brf1; Pol III genes; alcohol; hepatocellular carcinoma; survival