Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40624511›Full record

ArticleClinical epigenetics2025

Decitabine regulates the resistance of HCC to sorafenib through demethylation.

Miao Zhang, Xiaolei Zhou, Zhenzhen Li, TianYu Zhao, Yu Miao, Sen Liu, Qiaoqiao Han, Libo Wang, Yongdeng Xu, Tao Cui and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical epigenetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

14 authors.

Miao Zhang *State Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Xiaolei Zhou *State Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Zhenzhen LiState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
TianYu ZhaoState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Yu MiaoState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Sen LiuState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Qiaoqiao HanState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Libo WangState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Yongdeng XuState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Tao CuiState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China. cuitao0909@126.com.
Ze WangState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China. wangze9452@163.com.
Xiulin YiHefei Tianhui Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hefei, 230000, China.
Fengying YanState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.
Xiaoliang WangState Key Laboratory of Druggability Evatuation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, 300301, China.

Funding

Project of Science and Technology Program of Tianjin 23ZGCXQY00050Project of Science and Technology Program of Tianjin 24ZXZSSS00480Project of State Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine 712023001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the efficacy of sorafenib in combination with the DNA methylation inhibitor decitabine (DAC) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to investigate the mechanism of sorafenib resistance from an epigenetic perspective, aiming to provide new insights and strategies for HCC therapy.

methodsThe GEPIA2 database was used to analyze the expression of solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B3 (SLCO1B3) in various tumors and adjacent normal tissues. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to assess the relationship between SLCO1B3 expression and overall survival. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC) dataset was used to analyze correlations between SLCO1B3 and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Methylation levels of the SLCO1B3 promoter in Hep3B, HepG2, SNU182, and SNU387 cells were determined by bisulfite sequencing PCR. The expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3), encoded by SLCO1B3, was measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The effect of sorafenib combined with DAC on Hep3B and HepG2 cells proliferation was dynamically monitored using the Agilent xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis eSight system (RTCA-eSight). The mechanism was further validated in vivo using a Hep3B xenograft model in nude mice. OATP1B3 expression in tumor tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

resultsHCC patients with high SLCO1B3 expression had significantly better overall survival than those with low expression. SLCO1B3 expression was negatively correlated with DNMTs expression. Compared to other HCC cell lines, Hep3B and HepG2 cells exhibited higher DNA methylation levels and lower OATP1B3 protein expression. DAC treatment upregulated OATP1B3 expression in Hep3B and HepG2 cells. Co-administration of DAC increased sorafenib uptake and enhanced its cytotoxic effect in these cells. In the Hep3B xenograft model, tumor volumes in the combination group were markedly smaller than those in the monotherapy and control groups. OATP1B3 expression was significantly higher in both the combination and DAC-only groups compared to the control and sorafenib-only groups.

conclusionDAC promoted OATP1B3 expression by inhibiting SLCO1B3 methylation, thereby enhancing HCC sensitivity to sorafenib. These findings may offer novel therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of HCC.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularDecitabineDrug Resistance, NeoplasmLiver NeoplasmsSolute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1B3SorafenibAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationDNA MethylationFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHep G2 CellsHumansMaleMiceDecitabineSLCO1B3 protein, humanSolute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1B3SorafenibDecitabineDNA methylationHepatocellular carcinomaOATP1B3Sorafenib

Identifiers

PMID40624511
PMCPMC12235873

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