Expression of SLC22A1 variants may affect the response of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma to sorafenib

• Published in: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 1065 - 1073
• Main Authors: Herraez, Elisa, Lozano, Elisa, Macias, Rocio I.R., Vaquero, Javier, Bujanda, Luis, Banales, Jesus M., Marin, Jose J.G., Briz, Oscar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Bile Duct Neoplasms - drug therapy; Bile Duct Neoplasms - metabolism; Bile Duct Neoplasms - pathology; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Biopsy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cells, Cultured; Cholangiocarcinoma - drug therapy; Cholangiocarcinoma - metabolism; Cholangiocarcinoma - pathology; Female; Genes; Hepatology; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Molecular Sequence Data; Niacinamide - analogs & derivatives; Niacinamide - therapeutic use; Oocytes - cytology; Oocytes - metabolism; Organic Cation Transporter 1 - chemistry; Organic Cation Transporter 1 - genetics; Organic Cation Transporter 1 - metabolism; Pharmacogenetics; Phenylurea Compounds - therapeutic use; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Treatment Outcome; Xenopus laevis
• ISSN: 0270-9139; 1527-3350; 1527-3350
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.26425

Reduced drug uptake is an important mechanism of chemoresistance. Down‐regulation of SLC22A1 encoding the organic cation transporter‐1 (OCT1) may affect the response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CGC) to sorafenib, a cationic drug. Here we investigated whether SLC22A1 variants may contribute to sorafenib chemoresistance. Complete sequencing and selective variant identification were carried out to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SLC22A1 complementary DNA (cDNA). In HCC and CGC biopsies, in addition to previously described variants, two novel alternative spliced variants and three SNPs were identified. To study their functional consequences, these variants were mimicked by directed mutagenesis and expressed in HCC (Alexander and SK‐Hep‐1) and CGC (TFK1) cells. The two novel described variants, R61S fs*10 and C88A fs*16, encoded truncated proteins unable to reach the plasma membrane. Both variants abolished OCT1‐mediated uptake of tetraethylammonium, a typical OCT1 substrate, and were not able to induce sorafenib sensitivity. In cells expressing functional OCT1 variants, OCT1 inhibition with quinine prevented sorafenib‐induced toxicity. Expression of OCT1 variants in Xenopus laevis oocytes and determination of quinine‐sensitive sorafenib uptake by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐dual mass spectrometry confirmed that OCT1 is able to transport sorafenib and that R61S fs*10 and C88A fs*16 abolish this ability. Screening of these SNPs in 23 HCC and 15 CGC biopsies revealed that R61S fs*10 was present in both HCC (17%) and CGC (13%), whereas C88A fs*16 was only found in HCC (17%). Considering all SLC22A1 variants, at least one inactivating SNP was found in 48% HCC and 40% CGC. Conclusion: Development of HCC and CGC is accompanied by the appearance of aberrant OCT1 variants that, together with decreased OCT1 expression, may dramatically affect the ability of sorafenib to reach active intracellular concentrations in these tumors. (Hepatology 2013;53:1065–1073)