A novel strategy for sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma: autotaxin Inhibition by PF-8380

By inhibiting the conversion of lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid, a process pivotal to tumor progression, the autotaxin (ATX) inhibitor PF-8380 offers a new anticancer therapeutic strategy, distinct from the action mechanism of sorafenib. This study explored the potential anticancer effects of the PF-8380 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, especially sorafenib-resistant strains. The investigation included both in vitro and in vivo experiments to evaluate the impact of PF-8380 treatment on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy markers. An orthotopic HCC model served as the in vivo platform. PF-8380 showed a significant reduction in cell viability in both sorafenib-susceptible and resistant HCC cells. It effectively altered EMT by increasing E-cadherin and reducing Snail levels, and inhibited autophagy, as indicated by changes in LC3 and p62 markers. These effects were consistently observed in the orthotopic HCC mouse model, reinforcing PF-8380’s potential as a dual inhibitor of EMT and autophagy in HCC treatment. Our research indicates that PF-8380 could provide substantial therapeutic benefits in the treatment of HCC, even in cases resistant to sorafenib, primarily by suppressing both EMT and autophagy processes.