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PSG9 promotes angiogenesis by stimulating VEGFA production and is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant solid tumor characterized by rich vascularization. Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 9 (PSG9) is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)/PSG family and is produced at high levels during pregnancy. We previously identified PSG9 as an HCC-related protein. However, the expression of PSG9 and its regulation during HCC carcinogenesis remain poorly explored. In the present study, we first found that the levels of PSG9 protein were significantly increased in the plasma of HCC patients. PSG9 overexpression also increased the proliferation ability of an HCC cell line. High expression of PSG9 was associated with angiogenesis by accelerating VEGFA expression. In addition, Cox’s proportional hazards model analysis revealed that the plasma level of PSG9 was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. We propose that PSG9 is a novel indicator of prognosis in patients with HCC and could serve as a novel therapeutic target for HCC. Furthermore, our results indicate that PSG9 protein may facilitate the development of HCC by fostering angiogenesis via promoting VEGFA production in cancer cells.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81172035), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2012AA020206), and National Basic Research Program of China (2014CBA02004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China

    Lei Yang, Liyuan Yin, Yanning Gao, Ting Xiao & Shujun Cheng

  2. Department of Abdominal Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China

    Weiqi Rong

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  1. Weiqi Rong
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  2. Lei Yang
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  3. Liyuan Yin
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  4. Yanning Gao
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  5. Ting Xiao
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  6. Shujun Cheng
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Correspondence to Ting Xiao or Shujun Cheng.

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Rong, W., Yang, L., Yin, L. et al. PSG9 promotes angiogenesis by stimulating VEGFA production and is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci. China Life Sci. 60, 528–535 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-016-0226-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-016-0226-7

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