Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40141074›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

New Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Primary Cell Cultures as Models for Exploring Personalized Anti-TGF-β Therapies Based on Tumor Characteristics.

Rosanna Scialpi, Rut Espinosa-Sotelo, Esther Bertran, Francesco Dituri, Gianluigi Giannelli, Isabel Fabregat

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing 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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
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

6 authors.

Rosanna ScialpiTGF-β and Cancer Group-Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08860 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
Rut Espinosa-SoteloTGF-β and Cancer Group-Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08860 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
Esther BertranTGF-β and Cancer Group-Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08860 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
Francesco DituriMedical Oncology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy.
Gianluigi GiannelliMedical Oncology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5140-8060
Isabel FabregatTGF-β and Cancer Group-Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08860 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-0136-8440

Funding

Fundación Científica Asociación Española contra el cáncer (AECC) PRYGN211279FABRMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN-AEI), Spain PID2021-122551OB-100National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD - ISCIII) CB17/04/00017SGR program, AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya #2021 SGR 00029
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) plays a dual role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), acting as a tumor suppressor in early stages by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and as a promoter in advanced stages by fostering tumor progression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis. Understanding TGF-β's role in HCC progression, particularly its impact on tumor-stroma interactions, is crucial for developing personalized therapies. This study aims to clarify TGF-β function in HCC using patient-derived cell lines and advanced 2D and 3D culture models. Three new cell lines (HLC21, HLC19 tumoral, and HLC19 metastatic) were isolated from HCC patient biopsies, characterizing their phenotypic markers and responses to TGF-β and its inhibitor, galunisertib. HLC21 cells displayed a mixed epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype, responding to TGF-β suppressing growth and undergoing EMT, which were inhibited by galunisertib. Conversely, HLC19 tumoral and metastatic cells exhibited mesenchymal phenotypes and were resistant to both TGF-β suppression and galunisertib effects. In 3D co-cultures with hepatic fibroblasts, TGF-β inhibitory effects were diminished for responsive cell lines, while resistant lines maintained their non-responsiveness. These findings highlight TGF-β's dual role in HCC and its influence on tumor-stroma crosstalk, offering valuable models for exploring personalized anti-TGF-β therapies based on tumor characteristics.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsTransforming Growth Factor betaCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationCoculture TechniquesEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionHumansPrecision MedicinePrimary Cell CulturePyrazolesQuinolinesLY-2157299PyrazolesQuinolinesTransforming Growth Factor betaEMThepatic stellate cellsliver cancerliver tumor spheroidsstemnessTGF-beta inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID40141074
PMCPMC11942228

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.