Inhibiting the TGF-β1 Pathway Reduces the Aggressiveness of Intrahepatic CCA HuCCT1 CD90-Positive Cells

Molecular mechanisms responsible for the poor prognosis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are still unknown, but stem cell marker Cluster Differentiation 90 (CD90) has been reported to be associated with a more aggressive cancer phenotype. In this scenario, the TGF-beta 1 signal...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pizzuto, Elena, Mancarella, Serena, Gigante, Isabella, Serino, Grazia, Dituri, Francesco, Piccinno, Emanuele, Fabregat, Isabel, Giannelli, Gianluigi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/222250
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/222250
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Càncer de fetge
Oncogens
Liver cancer
Oncogenes
Descripción
Sumario:Molecular mechanisms responsible for the poor prognosis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are still unknown, but stem cell marker Cluster Differentiation 90 (CD90) has been reported to be associated with a more aggressive cancer phenotype. In this scenario, the TGF-beta 1 signaling pathway likely has a role as master gene regulator. Aim of the study is to investigate the role of CD90 in iCCA aggressiveness. The molecular profile of HuCCT1/CD90+ and HuCCT1/CD90- cells was obtained through transcriptomic analysis (NGS). Bioinformatic data were confirmed in both cell lines by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Cells were treated with Gemcitabine in monotherapy or in combination with Galunisertib, a selective inhibitor of TGF-beta RI, in 2D and 3D models. HuCCT1/CD90+ cells are more proliferative, less migratory, and resistant to Gemcitabine treatment. HuCCT1/CD90+ cells also express lower levels of TGF-beta 1 compared to /CD90- cell lines. Finally, HuCCT1/CD90+ cells are resistant to Gemcitabine, while the combination of Gemcitabine and Galunisertib displays a synergistic effect on HuCCT1/CD90+ cell proliferation. These results underline that CD90-induced Gemcitabine resistance can be overcome by adding a TGF beta 1 inhibitor such as Galunisertib, thereby moving further toward a precision medicine approach in patients with iCCA.