Effect of hepatocellular carcinoma suppressor gene-1 on the cancer stem-like phenotype and invasive and metastatic ability of liver tumor cells

Objective　To evaluate the effect of hepatocellular carcinoma suppressor gene-1 (HCCS1) on the cancer stemlike phenotype, and invasive and metastatic ability of liver tumor cells. Methods　Cells of human liver tumor cell line MHCC-97H were divided into three groups: normal control group, HCCS1 group and Ad-LacZ group. Cells in normal control group received no specific treatment, and cells in HCCS1 group and Ad-LacZ group were infected with Ad-HCCS1 and Ad-LacZ respectively, with infestation rate of 100:1. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression of HCCS1. FACS was used to identify the proportion of CD133 and CD90 positive cells. ELISA was employed to measure the levels of VEGF in the supernatant. Western blotting was used to detect the E-cadherin and fibronectin expression. Transwell assay was conducted to test the invasive and metastatic ability for the tumor cells. Results　The mRNA and protein expression of HCCS1 in the HCCS1 group were higher than those in normal control group and Ad-LacZ group (P＜0.01). Compared with normal control and Ad- LacZ group, the proportion of CD133 and CD90 positive cells, the content of VEGF in the supernatant, and the number of cells infiltrating Transwell membrane significantly decreased, while the expression of E-cadherin and fibronectin significantly increased in the HCCS1 group (P＜0.01). Conclusion　HCCS1 could inhibit cancer stem-like phenotype, and invasive and metastatic ability of MHCC-97H cells. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2014.09