ASF1B chaperones histone 3.3 to the β-cell cycle dance

Comprehensive Analysis Identified ASF1B as an Independent Prognostic Factor for HBV-Infected Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

Hepatitis B (HBV)-infected hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers, and it has high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma has been increasing in recent years, and existing treatment modalities do not significantly improve prognosis. Therefore, it is important to find a biomarker that can accurately predict prognosis.

Methods

This study was analyzed using the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and validated by the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. The STRING database was used to construct a gene co-expression network and visualize its functional clustering using Cytoscape. A prognostic signature model was constructed to observe high and low risk with prognosis, and independent prognostic factors for HBV-infected hepatocellular carcinoma were identified by Cox regression analysis. The independent prognostic factors were then analyzed for expression and survival, and their pathway enrichment was analyzed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

Results

805 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by differential analysis. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) showed that DEGs were mostly clustered in functional modules, such as cellular matrix response, cell differentiation, and tissue development. Prognostic characterization models showed that the high-risk group was associated with poor prognosis, while Cox regression analysis identified ASF1B as the only independent prognostic factor. As verified by expression and prognosis, ASF1B was highly expressed in HBV-infected hepatocellular carcinoma and led to a poor prognosis. GSEA showed that high ASF1B expression was involved in cell cycle-related signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Bioinformatic analysis identified ASF1B as an independent prognostic factor in HBV-infected hepatocellular carcinoma, and its high expression led to a poor prognosis. Furthermore, it may promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression by affecting cell cycle-related signaling pathways.

Elevated expression of ASF1B correlates with poor prognosis in human lung adenocarcinoma

Aim: ASF1 is involved in tumorigenesis. However, its possible role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is unclear. This study thus explored the role of ASF1A and ASF1B in LUAD. Materials & methods: Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus were employed to investigate ASF1A and ASF1B expression and its roles in LUAD prognosis. Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the protein expression of ASF1B of 30 LUAD patients. Results: The upregulation of ASF1B in tumor tissues is associated with worse overall survival and progress-free survival and is correlated with advanced tumor stage and tumor development. However, aberrant expression of ASF1A was not found in LUAD and ASF1A was not related to patients' overall survival and progress-free survival. Conclusion: ASF1B could be a promising prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in LUAD.