ArticleCancers2022
MAEL Augments Cancer Stemness Properties and Resistance to Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma through the PTGS2/AKT/STAT3 Axis.
Article in Cancers, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- [Different Astragalus medicinal pairs improve diabetic nephropathy in mice by regulating lipid peroxidation through PTGS2].Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University · 2026Article
- Dysregulation of piRNA biogenesis-associated proteins in cancer: mechanisms, evidence, and translational constraints.Frontiers in molecular biosciences · 2026Review
- Article
- Multi-omics sequencing of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma reveals prognosis-relevant key factors and a novel immunogenomic classification.Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association · 2025Article
- Targeting C21orf58 is a Novel Treatment Strategy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Disrupting the Formation of JAK2/C21orf58/STAT3 Complex.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2024Article
- Cancer stem cells and their niche in cancer progression and therapy.Cancer cell international · 2023Review
- Bioinformatics and network pharmacology-based study to elucidate the multi-target pharmacological mechanism of the indigenous plants of Medina valley in treating HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society · 2023Article
- Deciphering STAT3 signaling potential in hepatocellular carcinoma: tumorigenesis, treatment resistance, and pharmacological significance.Cellular & molecular biology letters · 2023Review
- Effect of Novel AKT Inhibitor Vevorisertib as Single Agent and in Combination with Sorafenib on Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Cirrhotic Rat Model.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumorigenesis, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). Cancer/testis antigen Maelstrom (MAEL) is implicated in the formation of CSC phenotypes, while the exact role and underlying mechanism remain unclear. Here, we found the upregulation of MAEL in HCC, with its expression negatively correlated with survival outcome. Functionally, MAEL promoted tumor cell aggressiveness, tumor stem-like potentials, and resistance to sorafenib in HCC cell lines. Transcriptional profiling indicated the dysregulation of stemness in MAEL knockout cells and identified PTGS2 as a critical downstream target transactivated by MAEL. The suppression effect of MAEL knockout in tumor aggressiveness was rescued in PTGS2 overexpression HCC cells. A molecular mechanism study revealed that the upregulation of PTGS2 by MAEL subsequently resulted in IL-8 secretion and the activation of AKT/NF-κB/STAT3 signaling. Collectively, our work identifies MAEL as an important stemness regulation gene in HCC. Targeting MAEL or its downstream molecules may provide a novel possibility for the elimination of CSC to enhance therapeutic efficacy for HCC patients in the future.
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Registered trials
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