Estrogen-related receptor γ is upregulated in liver cancer and its inhibition suppresses liver cancer cell proliferation via induction of p21 and p27

A protein upregulated in liver cancer tumors may prove invaluable as a biomarker and therapeutic target for the disease. A team led by Byoung Kuk Jang from Keimyung University School of Medicine and Keun-Gyu Park from Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, both in Daegu, Korea, examined the significance of a protein called estrogen-related receptor gamma, or ERRγ, in liver cancer tissues. The team found that ERRγ is significantly upregulated in liver cancer tumors, with the highest levels found in the most advanced tumor types. In contrast, ERRγ was rarely expressed in normal tissues surrounding tumors. Further tests inhibiting ERRγ activity suppressed liver cancer cell proliferation. These results indicate that ERRγ could prove invaluable, both as a biomarker for prognosis and a therapeutic target for future treatment for liver cancer.