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Expression of LPAR1-5 mRNA levels in peritumoral and HCC cell lines (S1); Cell cycle analysis of LPAR6-knocked-down cells versus controls (S2); Absence of apoptosis in stably LPAR6-knocked-down cells (S3); LPAR6 knockdown impairs HCC migration and actin organization but not cells adhesion (S4); Ectopic expression of LPAR6 in human hepatocarcinoma cell line HLE (S5); LPAR6 knockdown affects the gene expression profile in HCC cells (S6); The PIM3 inhibitor, SGI-1776 decreases tumor growth in vivo and in vitro (S7).

List of genes up-regulated in LPAR6 knocked down cells.

Description of additional methods and procedures used in the study.

Legends for Supplementary Tables S1-S3 and Supplementary Figures S1-S7.

List of genes down-regulated in LPAR6 knocked down cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in western countries. The major risk factors for HCC are hepatitis C or B viruses, alcohol and metabolic disorders. The increasing risk of HCC in patients with metabolic disorders (i.e. obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/NASH) regardless of the presence of liver cirrhosis is becoming relevant. Nevertheless, molecular mechanisms linking these risk factors to liver oncogenesis are unclear. This review focuses on the pathogenic role of the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) pathway in HCC, highlighting the implications of this bioactive phospholipid in liver cancer biology and metabolism and as potential therapeutic target.

Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide that has been widely used to treat agricultural pests. It is of particular concern because of its toxicity, persistence and tendency to bioaccumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In this context, we investigated the ability of the demosponge Hymeniacidon perlevis to bioremediate lindane polluted seawater during in vitro experimentation. Lindane was extracted by solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, we assessed the role exerted in lindane degradation by bacteria isolated from the sponge. Sponges showed low mortality in experimental conditions (lindane concentration 1 mu g/L) and were able to remove about 50% of the lindane content from seawater in 48 h. Bacteria isolated from sponges showed a remarkable remediating capacity (up to 97% of lindane removed after 8-days). A lindane metabolite was identified, 1,3,4,5,6-pentachloro-cyclohexene. The results obtained are a prelude to the development of future strategies for the in situ bioremediation of this pollutant. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: MLN2480 is an orally administered, investigational small molecule pan-RAF kinase inhibitor currently in Phase 1 clinical development. Here, we built integrated PK/PD/efficacy models to understand the relationship between MAPK pathway inhibition and efficacy as well as the effect of dose schedule in two melanoma xenograft models, A375 and SKMEL-2. Materials and Methods: We fit a one-compartment PK model to MLN2480 plasma concentration time profiles following a single dose in mice. Tumor pERK levels in xenograft-bearing mice, measured by Western blotting following single (A375) or multiple (SKMEL-2) doses of MLN2480 were fit to a direct or indirect inhibitory Emax model, respectively, to describe the PK/PD relationship between the plasma concentration and %pERK inhibition. Activity in each xenograft was evaluated as the percent growth rate inhibition (%GRI), the percent change between treated and control exponential tumor volume growth rates over the treatment cycle. To connect PK, PD, and efficacy for each xenograft, we simulated the PK and PD profiles over the treatment cycle for each dose group, and estimated the averages of plasma concentration (Cavg) and %pERK inhibition, respectively, using non-compartmental analysis. Results: From a multiple linear regression, schedule-related parameters are not predictive for drug effect demonstrating schedule-independent activity. For a variety of dose schedules, the relationship between total dose and SKMEL-2 xenograft growth rate is approximately linear (R = 0.90, p < 0.0001). A sigmoidal PK/efficacy model captures the relationship between Cavg and %GRI for both xenografts. A375 exhibits greater sensitivity than SKMEL-2 to the same Cavg of MLN2480, with the models predicting tumor regression (Emax = 172% GRI) and stasis (Emax = 102% GRI) as the maximal effects, respectively. Both xenografts have steep, sigmoidal PD/efficacy relationships, which show the same pERK inhibition is associated with greater %GRI in A375, and %GRI saturates with residual pERK (EC90 = 38% in A375, 22% in SKMEL-2). Conclusions: Integrated PK/PD and PK/efficacy modeling for MLN2480 response in A375 and SKMEL-2 xenografts shows a strong relationship between pERK inhibition and preclinical activity, and that maximal effect is achieved without complete inhibition of the MAPK pathway. The findings of pERK inhibition-dependent but not schedule-dependent activity provide translational guidance to clinical dose and schedule selection.