Integrated analysis of hypoxia-induced miR-210 signature as a potential prognostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma: a study based on The Cancer Genome Atlas

MicroRNA signature in liver cancer

Liver cancer is the 7^th utmost frequent neoplasm and the 4^th principal source of cancer deaths. This malignancy is linked with several environmental and lifestyle-related factors emphasizing the role of epigenetics in its pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been regarded as potent epigenetic mechanisms partaking in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been related with poor outcome of patients with liver cancer. In the current manuscript, we provide a concise review of the results of recent studies about the role of miRNAs in the progression of liver cancer and their diagnostic and prognostic utility.

Detection and analysis of stable and flexible genes towards a genome signature framework in cancer

Comparison and detection of stable cancer genes across cancer types is of interest. The gene expression data of 6 different cancer types (colon, breast, lung, ovarian, brain and renal) and a control group from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used in this study. The comparison of gene expression data together with the calculation standard deviations of such data was completed using a statistical model for the detection of stable genes. Genes having similar expression (referred as flexible genes) pattern to the control group in four out of six cancer types are PATE, NEUROD4 and TRAFD1. Moreover, 13 genes showed low difference compared to the control group with low standard deviation across cancer types (referred as stable genes). Among them, genes GDF2, KCNT1 and RNF151 showed consistent low expression while ODF4, OR5I1, MYOG and OR2B11 showed consistent high expression. Thus, the detection and analysis of stable and flexible cancer genes help towards the design and development of a framework (outline) for specific genome signature (biomarker) in cancer.