Analysis on EZH2: mechanism identification of related CeRNA and its immunoassay in hepatocellular carcinoma

LncRNA SNHG1: A novel biomarker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally. Increasing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs play a critical role in cancer development, with the small nucleolar RNA host gene family being a key participant in multiple types of carcinogenesis, including HCC. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) is a significant member of the SNHG family. SNHG1 expression consistently increases in various HCC-associated processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and treatment resistance. Higher SNHG1 expression levels predict worse prognosis by positively correlating with clinicopathological features, including larger tumour size, poor differentiation, and advanced stages in patients with HCC. Nevertheless, the precise role of SNHG1 in the initiation and progression of HCC remains unclear. Therefore, this review aims to summarise the current investigations on the pathogenesis of SNHG1 in HCC, highlighting its potential as a molecular marker for early prediction and prognostic assessment. As a multifunctional modulator, SNHG1 is extensively involved in molecular signalling pathways in HCC progression and is valuable for therapeutic targeting.

Key oncogenes and candidate drugs for hepatitis-B-driven hepatocellular carcinoma progression

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to uncover the key hepatitis-B (HB)-related liver cancer (LC) promoting genes, and clarity their interrelationships, enrichments, impacts on LC immune infiltration, and potential drugs targeting these genes.

METHODS

The LC-survival associated genes were acquired from the LIHC samples of the TCGA-database; and HB related genes from the DisGeNET database. The intersection was used to screen the key genes. Using the 8 HB-LC genes, we constructed prognostic models for survival prediction of HBV positive patients with LIHC and performed enrichment analysis, interaction analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and potential drug digging from the GTRP and GDSC databases.

RESULTS

In the core intersection of different sets. Based on these genes, prognostic cox regression models for OS and DFS were constructed. Overall, HB-LC genes were significantly negatively correlated with Th17, MAIT, monocytes, and CD4 Naive cells, while they were positively correlated with B cells, nTreg cells, and Tr1 cells. Among 8 genes, MKI67, EZH2, and CDCA5 were hub ones. Finally, 7 drugs target at least three HB-LC genes and can be used as novel drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, eight key HB-LC genes play important cancer-promoting roles in LC, which may be the molecular mechanism by which HBV drives the development of LC.

MicroRNA let-7c-5p Alleviates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2: A Study Intersecting Bioinformatic Analysis and Validated Experiments

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)gene has a prognostic role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to identify the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) let-7c-5p by targeting EZH2 in HCC. We downloaded gene and miRNA RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differences in EZH2 expression between different groups were analyzed and the association of EZH2 expression with HCC prognosis was detected using Cox regression analysis. The miRNA-EZH2-pathway network was constructed. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to detect the hsa-let-7c-5p-EZH2. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8, Wound healing, Transwell, and Flow cytometry, respectively. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of let-7c-5p and EZH2. EZH2 was upregulated in HCC tumors (P < 0.0001). Cox regression analysis showed that TCGA HCC patients with high EZH2 expression levels showed a short survival time [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.677, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.316-2.137; P < 0.0001]. Seven miRNAs were negatively correlated with EZH2 expression and were significantly downregulated in HCC tumor samples (P < 0.0001), in which hsa-let-7c-5p was associated with prognosis in HCC (HR = 0.849 95% CI 0.739-0.975; P = 0.021). We identified 14 immune cells that showed significant differences in EZH2 high- and low-expression groups. Additionally, let-7c-5p inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and reversed the promoted effects of EZH2 on HCC cell malignant characteristics. hsa-let-7c-5p-EZH2 significantly suppressed HCC malignant characteristics, which can be used for HCC prognosis.