AURKA promotes cancer metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell properties in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AURKA (aurora kinase A) has been confirmed as an oncogene in cancer development; however, its role and underlying mechanisms in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. In this study, We found that AURKA was up-regulated in HCC tissues and correlated with pathological stage and distant metastasis. Further found that AURKA was involved in the cancer metastases after radiation in HCC. While overexpression of AURKA induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) behaviors though PI3K/AKT pathway, silencing AURKA suppressed radiation-enhanced cell invasiveness of HCC. Taken together, our results suggested that AURKA contributed in metastasis of irradiated residul HCC though facilitating EMT and CSC properties, suggesting the potential clinical application of AURKA inhibitors in radiotherapy for patients with HCC.
The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, China.
Chenlin
C
Chen
The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, China.
Guangyuan
G
Song
The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, China.
Jue
J
Xiang
The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, China.
Hongcheng
H
Zhang
The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310005, China.
Shaoyun
S
Zhao
Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang University International Hospital, Hangzhou 310000, China. Electronic address: zhanyc1968@126.com.
Yinchu
Y
Zhan
D000368:Aged; D064096:Aurora Kinase A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C576917:AURKA protein, human; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
AURKA; Cancer stem cell (CSC); Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); Hepatocellular carcinoma; Radiation