Recombinant Adenovirus Carrying the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-1alpha Gene Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenograft Growth in Mice

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF1 alpha) is one of the key transcription factors of the HNF family, which plays a critical role in hepatocyte differentiation. Substantial evidence has suggested that down-regulation of HNF1 alpha may contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, human cancer cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) were isolated from human HCC tissues, respectively. A recombinant adenovirus carrying the HNF1 alpha gene (AdHNF1 alpha) was constructed to determine its effect on HCC in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrated that HCC cells and HCC tissues revealed reduced expression of HNF1 alpha. Forced reexpression of HNF1 alpha significantly suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells and TAFs and inhibited the clonogenic growth of hepatoma cells in vitro. In parallel, HNF1 alpha overexpression reestablished the expression of certain liver-specific genes and microRNA 192 and 194 levels, with a resultant increase in p21 levels and induction of G(2)/M arrest. Additionally, AdHNF1 alpha inhibited the expression of cluster of differentiation 133 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule and the signal pathways of the mammalian target of rapamycin and transforming growth factor beta/Smads. Furthermore, HNF1 alpha abolished the tumorigenicity of hepatoma cells in vivo. Most interestingly, intratumoral injection of AdHNF1 alpha significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous HCC xenografts in nude mice. Systemic delivery of AdHNF1 alpha could eradicate the orthotopic liver HCC nodules in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that the potent inhibitive effect of HNF1 alpha on HCC is attained by inducing the differentiation of hepatoma cells into mature hepatocytes and G2/M arrest. HNF1 alpha might represent a novel, promising therapeutic agent for human HCC treatment. Our findings also encourage the evaluation of differentiation therapy for tumors of organs other than liver using their corresponding differentiation-determining transcription factor. (HEPATOLOGY 2011; 54: 2036-2047)