Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40062588›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2025

The Role of Chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 7 (CCL7) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Expression, Function, and Mechanisms.

Yangkun Luo, Fei Wan, Zhao Zhang, Zujun Qin, Yongjun Ren

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yangkun LuoDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4071-2105
Fei WanDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Zhao ZhangDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Zujun QinDepartment of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Yongjun RenDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.

Funding

Beijing Medical Award Foundation YXJL-2022-0105-0025Nanchong Science and Technology Bureau 22SXQT0357
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimAHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant neoplasm characterized by a poor prognosis, with its incidence rising globally. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7), a chemokine protein, has been implicated in the progression of various cancers. Nonetheless, the specific role of CCL7 in HCC has yet to be elucidated. This study seeks to examine the expression and functional role of CCL7 in the context of HCC. MATERIALS &

methodsWestern blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of CCL7 in HCC tissues and cell lines. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assay, clonogenic assay, and transwell assay were performed to examine the effects of CCL7 on SNU-878 cells. Immunofluorescence was used to analyze the expression of proteins associated with epithelial interstitial transformation (EMT). Western blot was used to detect the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. In vivo tumorigenesis experiments were performed to assess the role of CCL7 in HCC tumorigenesis.

resultsThe results showed that the expression of CCL7 was up-regulated in HCC tissues, and exogenous CCL7 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of SNU-878 cells and VEGF secretion by SNU-878 cells. Furthermore, CCL7 stimulated the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Further analysis revealed that CCL7 targeted CCR1 and CCR2 to enhance the growth, and metastasis of SNU-878 cells and VEGF secretion by SNU-878 cells. CCR1/CCR2 silencing prevented CCL7 from activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in SNU-878 cells. Moreover, CCL7 facilitated HCC tumorigenesis and VEGF expression in vivo.

conclusionOur findings indicate that CCL7 plays a promoting role in HCC growth and tumorigenesis, potentially via targeting CCR1 and CCR2 and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularChemokine CCL7Liver NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell MovementCell ProliferationEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred BALB CMice, NudeMiddle AgedCCL7 protein, humanChemokine CCL7Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktReceptors, CCR1cancer progressionCCL7hepatocellular carcinomaPI3K/AKT pathway

Identifiers

PMID40062588
PMCPMC11891931

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.