A cell‐surface β‐hydroxylase is a biomarker and therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma
Arihiro Aihara, Chiung‐Kuei Huang, Mark J. Olsen, Qiushi Lin, Waihong Chung, Qi Tang, Xiaoqun Dong, Jack R. Wands – 20 June 2014 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis as a result of widespread intra‐ and extrahepatic metastases. There is an urgent need to understand signaling cascades that promote disease progression. Aspartyl‐(asparaginyl)‐β‐hydroxylase (ASPH) is a cell‐surface enzyme that generates enhanced cell motility, migration, invasion, and metastatic spread in HCC. We hypothesize that inhibition of its enzymatic activity could have antitumor effects.