BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chromodomain helicase/adenosine triphosphatase DNA binding 
protein 1-like (CHD1L) is an SNF2-like transcription factor involved in the 
development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sparc/osteonectin, cwcv, 
and kazal-like domains proteoglycan 1 (SPOCK1) is up-regulated by CHD1L; we 
investigated its role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.
METHODS: We investigated interactions between SPOCK1 and CHD1L using 
electrophoretic mobility shift and luciferase reporter assays. Levels of SPOCK1 
messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were measured in samples of HCC and adjacent 
nontumor liver tissues (135 pairs) and compared using Pearson correlation 
coefficients. Effects of SPOCK1 overexpression and silencing were determined in 
HCC cell lines (QGY-7703, PLC-8024, BEL-7402, and QGY-7701).
RESULTS: The CHD1L protein bound directly to the promoter region (nt-1662 to 
+34) of SPOCK1 and activated transcription. Levels of SPOCK1 mRNA and protein 
were increased in 60% of human HCC samples, compared with nontumor live tissues, 
and was associated significantly with clinical stage. Levels of SPOCK1 mRNA were 
increased among tumors that became metastatic, compared with those that did not, 
and among patients with shorter overall and disease-free survival times. Ectopic 
expression of SPOCK1 in HCC cells increased proliferation, foci formation, and 
colony formation in soft agar; these cells also formed larger xenograft tumors, 
more rapidly, in nude mice than control HCC cells. Silencing SPOCK1 expression 
with short hairpin RNA had the opposite effects. We found that SPOCK1 prevents 
apoptosis of HCC cells by activating Akt, to block release of cytochrome c and 
activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3; these effects were reversed with an Akt 
inhibitor. HCC cells that overexpressed SPOCK1 expressed higher levels of matrix 
metallopeptidase 9, were more invasive in Matrigel assays, and formed more 
metastatic nodules in immunodeficient mice than control HCC cells.
CONCLUSIONS: CHD1L activates expression of SPOCK1, which activates Akt signaling 
to block apoptosis and invasion by HCC cells, in culture and in mice. Levels of 
SPOCK1 increase with progression of human HCC. SPOCK1 might be used as a 
prognostic factor or therapeutic target.