Xu Y, Huang XB, He YG. Letter to the Editor: Beyond the mechanism: MiR-206 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma after incomplete radiofrequency ablation. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(9): 119098 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.119098]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yong-Gang He, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, No. 83 Xinqiaozheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China. xqyyhyg@tmmu.edu.cn
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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letter
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Xu Y, Huang XB, He YG. Letter to the Editor: Beyond the mechanism: MiR-206 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma after incomplete radiofrequency ablation. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(9): 119098 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.119098]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Sep 15, 2026; 18(9): 119098 Published online Sep 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.119098
Letter to the Editor: Beyond the mechanism: MiR-206 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma after incomplete radiofrequency ablation
Yan Xu, Xiao-Bing Huang, Yong-Gang He
Yan Xu, Xiao-Bing Huang, Yong-Gang He, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
Author contributions: Xu Y drafted and edited the manuscript; Huang XB revised the manuscript; He YG contributed to the conceptualization of the study and the critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content; and all authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Yong-Gang He, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, No. 83 Xinqiaozheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China. xqyyhyg@tmmu.edu.cn
Received: January 26, 2026 Revised: February 11, 2026 Accepted: April 13, 2026 Published online: September 15, 2026 Processing time: 218 Days and 21.1 Hours
Abstract
Lu et al in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology provided compelling evidence that micro RNA-206 (miR-206) suppressed hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after incomplete radiofrequency ablation by targeting the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and its downstream glycolytic target 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3. While the mechanistic insights provided are valuable, the clinical translational potential of miR-206 warrants greater emphasis, particularly given the current limitations of existing biomarkers, such as alpha-fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II, which often lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity for predicting recurrence after ablation. We propose the translational potential may lie in exploring miRNA-206 as a dual-purpose tool: A preoperative prognostic biomarker for risk stratification and a post-ablation therapeutic agent delivered via advanced nanocarriers to the periablational zone. Future studies should investigate this potential duality to shift hepatocellular carcinoma management toward precision interventions.
Core Tip: This commentary extends the findings from a recent article by proposing two concrete translational applications for microRNA-206 in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: (1) As a preoperative biomarker to stratify recurrence risk before ablation; and (2) As a therapeutic agent administered locally by a nanocarrier during or after radiofrequency ablation to prevent recurrence. The potential duality of microRNA-206 could transform the standard of care for patients with high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma.
