<p>Figure S3. Lenvatinib-induced decreased cell viability in hypoxic condition is abrogated in other cell lines with relatively low HIF-1α expression. (A) Western blot analysis of HIF-1α and β-actin in Huh-7 cells and Hep3B cells in hypoxic condition. (B) Western blot analysis of HIF-1α and β-actin in HepG2 cells and SNU449 cells in hypoxic condition. (C) Cell viability measured by MTS assays in Hep3B cells. (D) Cell viability measured by CCK8 assays in Huh-7 cells and Hep3B cells. (E) Cell viability measured by MTS assays in HepG2 and SNU449 cells. (F) Cell viability measured by CCK8 assays in HepG2 and SNU449 cells.</p>
ARTICLE ABSTRACT
A recent trial has shown that adding transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to lenvatinib therapy results in enhanced therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the lenvatinib and TACE combination in a real-world clinical context for managing HCC and to elucidate the molecular pathways involved.
This retrospective analysis included 199 patients diagnosed with HCC and having intrahepatic lesions between 2018 and 2021. The cohort was divided into those who received lenvatinib plus TACE (n = 62, combination group) and those who received lenvatinib monotherapy (n = 137, monotherapy group). To further explore the underlying mechanisms, Huh-7 cells were exposed to lenvatinib or a vehicle for 48 hours under normoxic or hypoxic conditions.
Propensity score–matched analysis revealed a significant improvement in both overall survival (adjusted HR, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.24–0.59; P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (adjusted HR, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.64; P < 0.001) in the combination group compared with the monotherapy group. In laboratory experiments, under hypoxic conditions, lenvatinib notably attenuated hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein levels in Huh-7 cells without altering its mRNA levels. Intriguingly, lenvatinib facilitated the mouse double minute 2 homolog–mediated ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of HIF-1α. Additionally, cell viability assays confirmed a significant decrease in Huh-7 cell survival following lenvatinib treatment under hypoxic conditions.
The combination of lenvatinib and TACE significantly improved survival in patients with HCC. The mechanistic foundation seems to be the lenvatinib-triggered degradation of HIF-1α via the mouse double minute 2 homolog–dependent ubiquitination pathway, highlighting a potential therapeutic target in HCC treatment.
