Anisotropic patterns of liver cancer prevalence in Guangxi in Southwest China: is local climate a contributing factor?

Spatial investigation of the links between aflatoxins legislation, climate, and liver cancer at the global scale

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic toxins produced by fungi, and many countries legislate limits in food. Previous research suggests elevated liver cancer (LC) mortality in some areas may be due to aflatoxin exposure, but this has not been investigated spatially. We investigate links between aflatoxin legislation, climate, and LC mortality and other covariates globally. Comparison tests of LC mortality showed expected patterns with legislation and climate. They also showed associations between high LC mortality and high Hepatitis, low alcohol consumption, low health expenditure and high family agriculture rates. Spatial analysis showed latitudinal trend with significant clusters of low LC mortality in Europe and high rates in West Africa, Central America, East and South-East Asia. Only health expenditure and Hepatitis were significant in spatial regression, but climate and family agriculture were also significant in multiple linear regression (MLR). Results suggest that aflatoxin education and legislation should be expanded, particularly in hot/wet climates.

Exploring anti-liver cancer targets and mechanisms of oxyresveratrol: in silico and verified findings

The aim of current study was to exhume the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of oxyresveratrol, a structurally re-constructed resveratrol, for treating liver cancer through bioinformatics investigation and experimentative validation. To start with, the network pharmacology approach and molecular docking technology were used to uncover all candidate targets of oxyresveratrol to treat liver cancer, accompanied with identified anti-liver cancer targets including estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In addition, more pharmacological mechanisms of oxyresveratrol against liver cancer were revealed in details. In experimental verification, the clinical samples of liver cancer showed elevated ESR1, EGFR mRNA expressions. The in-vitro data indicated that intracellular contents of ESR1, EGFR mRNAs in oxyresveratrol-treated liver cancer cells were reduced. Taken together, the bioinformatics and validated findings have highlighted detailed pharmacological targets and molecular mechanisms of oxyresveratrol for treating liver cancer. Following with experimental verification, the identified genes of ESR1, EGFR may function as potential screening anti-liver cancer markers.