Identification of a long non-coding RNA regulator of liver carcinoma cell survival

GBAP1 functions as a tumor promotor in hepatocellular carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common worldwide, and novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers are needed to improve outcomes. In this study, bioinformatics analyses combined with in vitro and in vivo assays were used to identify the potential therapeutic targets. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) in HCC were identified by the intersection between The Cancer Genome Atlas and International Cancer Genome Consortium data. The DEGs were evaluated by a gene set enrichment analysis as well as Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. A protein interaction network, univariate Cox regression, and Lasso regression were used to screen out hub genes correlated with survival. Increased expression of the long noncoding RNA GBAP1 in HCC was confirmed in additional datasets and its biological function was evaluated in HCC cell lines and nude mice. Among 121 DEGs, GBAP1 and PRC1 were identified as hub genes with significant prognostic value. Overexpression of GBAP1 in HCC was confirmed in 21 paired clinical tissues and liver cancer or normal cell lines. The inhibition of GBAP1 expression reduced HCC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis by inactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, GBAP1 has a pro-oncogenic function in HCC and is a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Synthesis, characterization, and antiproliferative evaluation of novel sorafenib analogs for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer is a disease triggered by an uncontrolled proliferation of a cluster of cells, typically originating from a single cell. Sorafenib, a widely utilized pharmaceutical, has limitations in clinical use due to pharmacokinetic challenges and the development of resistance mechanisms. This investigation aimed to synthesize new sorafenib analogs and evaluated their activity against HepG2 cell lines, specifically targeting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Seven sorafenib analogs were synthesized and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H-NMR spectra. Cytotoxicity of the analogs was assessed on the human HepG2 cancer cell line by (3-(4, 5-dimethylthazolk-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) colorimetric assay. Results revealed that among the studied compounds, 4b exhibited the most pronounced cytotoxicity against cancer cells, surpassing even the efficacy of sorafenib. This suggested that small substitutions on the NH moiety play a crucial role in the activity against the human HepG2 liver cancer cell line. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of potential anticancer-targeting HCC.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNA and microRNA Networks in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Tumor Microenvironment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common liver malignancy with high morbidity and poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in crucial biological processes of tumorigenesis and progression, and play four major regulatory roles, namely signal, decoy, guide, and scaffold, to regulate gene expression. Through these processes, lncRNAs can target microRNAs (miRNAs) to form lncRNA and miRNA networks, which regulate cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and the tumor microenvironment. Here, we summarize the multifaceted functions of lncRNA and miRNA networks in the pathogenesis of HCC, the potential use of diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, and novel therapeutic targets in HCC. This review also highlights the regulatory effects of lncRNA and miRNA networks in the tumor microenvironment of HCC.