Targeted Drug Screening Leveraging Senescence-Induced T-Cell Exhaustion Signatures in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2024 Oct 26

PMID 39457014

Authors

Qi Qi

Jianyu Pang

Yongzhi Chen

Yuheng Tang

Hui Wang

Samina Gul

Yingjie Sun

Wenru Tang

Miaomiao Sheng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, with most patients diagnosed at advanced stages and facing limited early treatment options. This study aimed to identify characteristic genes associated with T-cell exhaustion due to senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients, elucidating the interplay between senescence and T-cell exhaustion. We constructed prognostic models based on five signature genes (ENO1, STMN1, PRDX1, RAN, and RANBP1) linked to T-cell exhaustion, utilizing elastic net regression. The findings indicate that increased expression of ENO1 in T cells may contribute to T-cell exhaustion and Treg infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to screen small molecule compounds that target the anti-tumor effects of these exhaustion-related genes. This study provides crucial insights into the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, establishing a strong foundation for the development of predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for affected patients.

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