Multiple “Omics” data-based biomarker screening for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis

The lncRNA B3GALT5-AS1 Functions as an HCC Suppressor by Regulating the miR-934/UFM1 Axis

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is importantly related to the occurrence and development of cancer. According to reports, the expression of B3GALT5-AS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is downregulated; however, the role of B3GALT5-AS1 in HCC is not yet clear. In this study, our purpose is to explore the biological function of B3GALT5-AS1 in HCC and its coupling mechanism with miR-934 and ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1). We found that the B3GALT5-AS1 expression level was of significant reduction in both HCC tissues and cell lines; B3GALT5-AS1 overexpression (ov) may inhibit the malignant features of HCC. In addition, we demonstrated that miR-934 mimics could reverse the effect of B3GALT5-AS1 ov, which proved miR-934 was the downstream regulator of B3GALT5-AS1. Furthermore, si-UFM1 could reverse the effect of miR-934 inhibitor, which revealed the connection between them. Moreover, we found that B3GALT5-AS1 could keep down the PI3K/AKT pathway through UFM1. Our results demonstrated that B3GALT5-AS1 was an excellent HCC suppressant by regulating miR-934 and UFM1 to achieve negative regulation of HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, indicating that B3GALT5-AS1 is a promising potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Integrated bioinformatics analyses of key genes involved in hepatocellular carcinoma immunosuppression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-driven cancer. Chronically unresolved inflammation may remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which is rich in innate immune cells. The mechanisms via which HCC progresses through the evasion of the innate immune surveillance remain unclear. The present study thus aimed to identify key genes involved in HCC immunosuppression and to establish an innate immune risk signature, with the ultimate goal of obtaining new insight into effective immunotherapies. HCC and normal liver tissue mRNA expression and clinicopathological data were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The immunosuppressive innate immune-related genes (IIRGs) in HCC were screened using integrated bioinformatics analyses. Gene expression was then validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus database and the Human Protein Atlas database, and tissues were obtained from patients with HCC who underwent surgery. In total, 3,676 genes were identified as differentially expressed mRNAs after comparing the HCC tissues with the normal liver tissues in TCGA. Gene Set Enrichment Analyses revealed 21 highly expressed IIRGs in HCC tissues. A survival analysis and Cox regression model were used to construct an innate immune risk signature, including three IIRGs: Collectin-12 (COLEC12), matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) and mucin-12 (MUC12) genes. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses revealed that the signature of the three IIRGs was a robust independent risk factor in relation to the overall survival (OS) of patients with HCC. The expression of the three aforementioned IIRGs was confirmed through external validation. Moreover, COLEC12 and MMP12 expression significantly correlated with that of immune checkpoint molecules or immunosuppressive cytokines. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion tool predicted that the increased expression of the three IIRGs in patients with HCC was significantly associated with the efficacy of relatively poor immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Conclusively, a novel innate immune-related risk signature for patients with HCC was constructed and validated. This signature may be involved in immunosuppression, and may be used to predict a poor prognosis, functioning as a potential immunotherapeutic target for patients with HCC.

Peripheral Blood Genetic Biomarkers for the Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and has high mortality. Biomarkers related to HCC, such as alpha-fetoprotein, and imaging technology, such as ultrasound and computed tomography, have been used to screen and monitor HCC, but HCC is still difficult to diagnose effectively in the early stage due to the low sensitivity of the above mentioned traditional methods. There is an urgent need for noninvasive biomarkers to facilitate the screening and early diagnosis of HCC. With the advancement of next-generation sequencing, genetic biomarkers are becoming the core of cancer diagnosis. Genetic biomarkers such as peripheral blood circulating tumor DNA, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and exosomes have become the focus of early HCC diagnostics. HCC genetic biomarkers have been implemented in clinical practice. In this review, we describe the available literature on peripheral blood genetic biomarkers in the diagnosis of early HCC.