Huang JZ, Li JD, Chen G, He RQ. Identification of the key genes and mechanisms associated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation refractoriness in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15(1): 62-88 [PMID: 38292662 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i1.62]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Rong-Quan He, MD, PhD, Doctor, Researcher, Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. herongquan@gxmu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Article-Type of This Article
Clinical and Translational Research
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Oncol. Jan 24, 2024; 15(1): 62-88 Published online Jan 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i1.62
Identification of the key genes and mechanisms associated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation refractoriness in hepatocellular carcinoma
Jie-Zhuang Huang, Jian-Di Li, Gang Chen, Rong-Quan He
Jie-Zhuang Huang, Rong-Quan He, Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Jian-Di Li, Gang Chen, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Author contributions: Huang JZ and Li JD took part in data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation and paper drafting; He RQ and Chen G were responsible for study design, statistical analysis guidance and paper correction.
Supported byGuangxi Higher Education Undergraduate Teaching Reform Project, No. 2021JGA142; Guangxi Educational Science Planning Key Project, No. 2022ZJY2791; Guangxi Medical University Education and Teaching Reform Project, No. 2021XJGA02; and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Commission Self-financed Scientific Research Project, No. Z20201147.
Institutional review board statement: The study did not involve any human or animal related experiments, so no statement of ethics will be provided.
Informed consent statement: The letter is to state that “informed consent” is not apply for our manuscript because the data of this study are from the public database TCGA, GEO and GTEx database.
Conflict-of-interest statement: We have no financial relationships to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Rong-Quan He, MD, PhD, Doctor, Researcher, Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. herongquan@gxmu.edu.cn
Received: October 23, 2023 Peer-review started: October 23, 2023 First decision: November 23, 2023 Revised: December 12, 2023 Accepted: December 28, 2023 Article in press: December 28, 2023 Published online: January 24, 2024 Processing time: 91 Days and 12.6 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background
Transcatheter arterial embolisation (TACE) is a primary therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in the intermediate and advanced stages. In China, TACE refractoriness is defined as the intrahepatic target lesion that remains in a disease progression state after receiving standardised and refined TACE treatment for three or more times consecutively.
Research motivation
It is essential to identify biomarkers for predicting TACE refractoriness and to explore the potential mechanisms of TACE refractoriness.
Research objectives
The purpose of our study is to identify the key genes associated with TACE refractoriness and investigate the potential mechanisms of TACE refractoriness.
Research methods
The gene expression profile was obtained from the public databases. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and the cytoHubba plugin were utilised to identify the key genes in TACE refractoriness. Multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier were employed. ScRNA analysis was used for exploring the potential mechanisms of TACE refractoriness.
Research results
Five key genes (DLGAP5, KIF20A, ASPM, KIF11, and TPX2) were all up-regulated in TACE non-responders, which predicted poor prognosis. TPX2 is recognised as an independent prognostic factor. TACE refractoriness-related genes were mainly active in hepatocytes and embryonic stem cells. Hepatocytes and embryonic stem cells showed strong cellular interactions in HCC.
Research conclusions
Five key genes (DLGAP5, KIF20A, ASPM, KIF11, and TPX2) were identified as being associated with TACE refractoriness. Hepatocytes and embryonic stem cells probably promoted TACE refractoriness.
Research perspectives
More vivo and vitro experiments are essential to elaborate and verify the significance of the key genes and the potential mechanisms involved in TACE refractoriness.
